Proverbs 31

1The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.

1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

1Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?

2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

2`What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.

3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

3Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

4Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

5For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.

5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

5Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:

6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

6Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.

7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

7He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

10Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.

10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

10A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies <FI>is<Fi> her price.

11The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.

11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

11The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

12She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.

13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

13She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh <FI>with<Fi> her hands.

14She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.

14She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

14She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

15She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.

15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

15Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

16After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.

16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

16She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.

17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

17She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

18She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.

18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

18She hath perceived when her merchandise <FI>is<Fi> good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.

19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

19Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.

20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

20Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

21She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.

21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

21She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed <FI>with<Fi> scarlet.

22She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.

22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

22Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple <FI>are<Fi> her clothing.

23Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.

23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

23Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

24She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.

24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

24Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

25Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.

25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

25Strength and honour <FI>are<Fi> her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

26Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.

26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

26Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness <FI>is<Fi> on her tongue.

27She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.

27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

27She <FI>is<Fi> watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

28Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,

28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

28Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

29Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.

29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

29`Many <FI>are<Fi> the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

30Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.

30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

30The grace <FI>is<Fi> false, and the beauty <FI>is<Fi> vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

31Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

31Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!