Proverbs, 31

1. The sayings of Lemuel king of Massa, taught him by his mother:

1. The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

2. What, my son! What, son of my womb! What, son of my vows!

2. What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?

3. Do not expend your energy on women nor your wealth on those who ruin kings.

3. Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

4. Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings the drinking of wine, not for princes the love of liquor,

4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink;

5. for fear that in liquor they forget what they have decreed and pervert the course of justice against all the poor.

5. lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6. Procure strong drink for someone about to die, wine for him whose heart is heavy:

6. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;

7. let him drink and forget his misfortune, and remember his misery no more.

7. let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.

8. Make your views heard, on behalf of the dumb, on behalf of all the unwanted;

8. Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all who are left desolate.

9. make your views heard, pronounce an upright verdict, defend the cause of the poor and the wretched.

9. Open your mouth, judge righteously, maintain the rights of the poor and needy.

10. The truly capable woman -- who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls.

10. A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

11. Her husband's heart has confidence in her, from her he will derive no little profit.

11. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

12. Advantage and not hurt she brings him all the days of her life.

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

13. She selects wool and flax, she does her work with eager hands.

13. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

14. She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.

14. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar.

15. She gets up while it is still dark giving her household their food, giving orders to her serving girls.

15. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens.

16. She sets her mind on a field, then she buys it; with what her hands have earned she plants a vineyard.

16. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17. She puts her back into her work and shows how strong her arms can be.

17. She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong.

18. She knows that her affairs are going well; her lamp does not go out at night.

18. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

19. She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle.

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

20. She holds out her hands to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy.

20. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21. Snow may come, she has no fears for her household, with all her servants warmly clothed.

21. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22. She makes her own quilts, she is dressed in fine linen and purple.

22. She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23. Her husband is respected at the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.

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

24. She weaves materials and sells them, she supplies the merchant with sashes.

24. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant.

25. She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the day to come.

25. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

26. When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely; on her tongue is kindly instruction.

26. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27. She keeps good watch on the conduct of her household, no bread of idleness for her.

27. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28. Her children stand up and proclaim her blessed, her husband, too, sings her praises:

28. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29. 'Many women have done admirable things, but you surpass them all!'

29. "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."

30. Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who fears Yahweh is the one to praise.

30. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31. Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

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