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The Proverbs

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 31 -

Utterances of Lemuel

1
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3
Do not give your strength to women, || And your ways to wiping away of kings.
4
[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, || Not for kings, to drink wine, || And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
5
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, || And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6
Give strong drink to the perishing, || And wine to the bitter in soul,
7
He drinks, and forgets his poverty, || And he does not remember his misery again.
8
Open your mouth for the mute, || For the right of all sons of change.
9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, || Both the cause of the poor and needy!”

The virtuous spouse

10
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, || And he does not lack spoil.
12
She has done him good, and not evil, || All [the] days of her life.
13
She has sought wool and flax, || And with delight she works [with] her hands.
14
She has been as ships of the merchant, || She brings in her bread from afar.
15
Indeed, she rises while yet night, || And gives food to her household, || And a portion to her girls.
16
She has considered a field, and takes it, || She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17
She has girded her loins with might, || And strengthens her arms.
18
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, || Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, || And her hands have held a distaff.
20
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, || Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of her household from snow, || For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, || Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23
Her husband is known in the gates, || In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24
She has made linen garments, and sells, || And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, || And she rejoices at a latter day.
26
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, || And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27
She [is] watching the ways of her household, || And she does not eat bread of sloth.
28
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, || Her husband, and he praises her,
29
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, || You have gone up above them all.”
30
Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, || A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
31
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, || And her works praise her in the gates!
Copyright © 2020 Covenant Press and the CCC - licensed under CC BY-SA

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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