Proverbs 31

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

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

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

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

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

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?

3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

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

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

4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?

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

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

5— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.

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

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.

6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:

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

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

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.

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

8Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.

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

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

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.

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

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

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

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

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

11The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

15And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.

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

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

16She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of 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.

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

17She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.

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

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

18She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.

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

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

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

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

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

20She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and 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.

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

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.

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

22She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.

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

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

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.

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

24She maketh body 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.

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

25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.

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

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

26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon 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.

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

27She surveyeth 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.

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

28Her children rise 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,

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

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

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

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

30Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, 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.

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.

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!

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