Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5 If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21 She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
