Proverbs 31
A Mother’s Oracle
1The words of King Lemuel, the ▼▼Or burden
oracle unto which his mother disciplined him: 2What, O my son?
And what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
3Do not give your excellence to women,
Or your ways to that which blots out kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5Lest he drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the justice of all the ▼
▼Lit sons of affliction
afflicted.6Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those whose soul is bitter.
7Let him drink and forget his poverty
And he will not remember his trouble any longer.
8Open your mouth for the mute,
For the justice of all those ▼
▼Lit sons of passing away
passing away.9Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And render justice to the afflicted and needy.
A Woman Who Fears Yahweh
Aleph10 ▼
▼Lit a woman of excellence, a woman of strength
An excellent wife, who can find?For her worth is far above pearls.
Beth
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
Gimel
12She deals bountifully with him for good and not evil
All the days of her life.
Daleth
13She searches for wool and flax
And works with her ▼
▼Lit palms
hands ▼▼Or willingly
in delight.He
14She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
Vav
15And she rises while it is still night,
And gives ▼
▼Lit prey
food to her householdAnd a ▼
▼Or prescribed task
portion to her young women.Zayin
16She makes plans for a field and buys it;
From the fruit of her ▼
▼Lit palms
hands she plants a vineyard.Heth
17She girds ▼
▼Lit her loins
herself with strengthAnd makes her arms strong.
Teth
18She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
Yodh
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her ▼
▼Lit palms
hands hold fast the spindle.Kaph
20She ▼
▼Lit spreads out her palm
extends her hand to the poor,And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
Lamedh
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Mem
22She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Nun
23Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits with the elders of the land.
Samekh
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
And gives belts to the ▼
▼Lit Canaanite
tradesmen.Ayin
25Strength and majesty are her clothing,
And she smiles at the ▼
▼Lit latter days
future.Pe
26She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the ▼
▼Or law
instruction of lovingkindness is on her tongue.Tsadhe
27She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of ▼
▼Lit being a sluggard
idleness.Qoph
28Her children rise up and bless her;
As for her husband, he also praises her, saying:
Resh
29“Many daughters have done excellently,
But you have gone above them all.”
Shin
30 ▼
▼ Lit Gracefulness
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who ▼
▼Or reverences
fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.Tav
31Give to her from the fruit of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Copyright information for
LSB