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The Proverbs

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- Chapter 31 -

Utterances of Lemuel

1
The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:(a)
2
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5
And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6
Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7
Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8
Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9
Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.

The virtuous spouse

10
Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11
The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12
She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13
She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14
She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15
And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16
She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17
She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18
She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19
She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20
She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21
She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22
She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23
Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24
She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.(b) (c)
25
Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26
She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27
She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28
Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.(d)
29
Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30
Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31
Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.

Footnotes

(a)31:1 Lamuel:This name signifies God with him, and is supposed to have been one of the names of Solomon.(Challoner)
(b)31:24 The word ‘cingulum’ refers to something that encircles or wraps; in this context, it is made of cloth. It could conceivably be anything from a headband to an undergarment.(Conte)
(c)31:24 The Chanaanite:The merchant, for Chanaanite, in Hebrew, signifies a merchant.(Challoner)
(d)31:28 Or, ‘Her sons rose up and proclaimed her most blessed;”(Conte)

Utterances of Lemuel

1
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

The virtuous spouse

10
(a) Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
11
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

Footnotes

(a)31:10 Proverbs 31:10 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order.
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