Proverbs 31 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[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.” [10] 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 Yahweh, she shall be praised.
[31] Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates!
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.” [10] 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 Yahweh, she shall be praised.
[31] Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates!
King James Version
Words of Lemuel
[1] The words H1697 of king H4428 Lemuel, H3927 the prophecy H4853 that his mother H517 taught H3256 (PielPerf) him.[2] What, my son? H1248 and what, the son H1248 of my womb? H990
And what, the son H1248 of my vows? H5088
[3] Give H5414 (QalImpf) not thy strength H2428 unto women, H802
Nor thy ways H1870 to that which destroyeth H4229 (HiphInf) kings. H4428
[4] It is not for kings, H4428 O Lemuel, H3927 it is not for kings H4428 to drink H8354 (QalInf) wine; H3196
Nor for H335 (Qere) princes H7336 (QalActPtc) strong drink: H7941
[5] Lest they drink, H8354 (QalImpf) and forget H7911 (QalImpf) the law, H2710 (PualPtc)
And pervert H8138 (PielImpf)§ the judgment H1779 of any of the afflicted. H1121§ [6] Give H5414 (QalImpv) strong drink H7941 unto him that is ready to perish, H6 (QalActPtc)
And wine H3196 unto those that be of heavy H4751 hearts. H5315§
[7] Let him drink, H8354 (QalImpf) and forget H7911 (QalImpf) his poverty, H7389
And remember H2142 (QalImpf) his misery H5999 no more.
[8] Open H6605 (QalImpv) thy mouth H6310 for the dumb H483
In the cause H1779 of all such as are appointed H1121 to destruction. H2475§
[9] Open H6605 (QalImpv) thy mouth, H6310 judge H8199 (QalImpv) righteously, H6664
And plead H1777 (QalImpv) the cause of the poor H6041 and needy. H34
The Good Wife
[10] Who can find H4672 (QalImpf) a virtuous H2428 woman? H802For her price H4377 is far H7350 above rubies. H6443
[11] The heart H3820 of her husband H1167 doth safely trust H982 (QalPerf) in her,
So that he shall have no need H2637 (QalImpf) of spoil. H7998
[12] She will do H1580 (QalPerf) him good H2896 and not evil H7451
All the days H3117 of her life. H2416
[13] She seeketh H1875 (QalPerf) wool, H6785 and flax, H6593
And worketh H6213 (QalImpf) willingly H2656 with her hands. H3709
[14] She is like the merchants’ H5503 (QalActPtc) ships; H591
She bringeth H935 (HiphImpf) her food H3899 from afar. H4801
[15] She riseth H6965 (QalImpf) also while it is yet night, H3915
And giveth H5414 (QalImpf) meat H2964 to her household, H1004
And a portion H2706 to her maidens. H5291
[16] She considereth H2161 (QalPerf) a field, H7704 and buyeth H3947 (QalImpf)§ it:
With the fruit H6529 of her hands H3709 she planteth H5193 (QalPerf) a vineyard. H3754
[17] She girdeth H2296 (QalPerf) her loins H4975 with strength, H5797
And strengtheneth H553 (PielImpf) her arms. H2220
[18] She perceiveth H2938 (QalPerf)§ that her merchandise H5504 is good: H2896
Her candle H5216 goeth not out H3518 (QalImpf) by night. H3915
[19] She layeth H7971 (PielPerf) her hands H3027 to the spindle, H3601
And her hands H3709 hold H8551 (QalPerf) the distaff. H6418
[20] She stretcheth out H6566 (QalPerf) her hand H3709 to the poor; H6041
Yea, she reacheth forth H7971 (PielPerf) her hands H3027 to the needy. H34
[21] She is not afraid H3372 (QalImpf) of the snow H7950 for her household: H1004
For all her household H1004 are clothed H3847 (QalPasPtc) with scarlet. H8144§
[22] She maketh H6213 (QalPerf) herself coverings of tapestry; H4765
Her clothing H3830 is silk H8336 and purple. H713
[23] Her husband H1167 is known H3045 (NiphPtc) in the gates, H8179
When he sitteth H3427 (QalInf) among the elders H2205 of the land. H776
[24] She maketh H6213 (QalPerf) fine linen, H5466 and selleth H4376 (QalImpf) it;
And delivereth H5414 (QalPerf) girdles H2289 unto the merchant. H3669
[25] Strength H5797 and honour H1926 are her clothing; H3830
And she shall rejoice H7832 (QalImpf) in time H3117 to come. H314
[26] She openeth H6605 (QalPerf) her mouth H6310 with wisdom; H2451
And in her tongue H3956 is the law H8451 of kindness. H2617
[27] She looketh well H6822 (QalActPtc) to the ways H1979 (Qere) of her household, H1004
And eateth H398 (QalImpf) not the bread H3899 of idleness. H6104
[28] Her children H1121 arise up, H6965 (QalPerf) and call her blessed; H833 (PielImpf)
Her husband H1167 also, and he praiseth H1984 (PielImpf) her.
[29] Many H7227 daughters H1323 have done H6213 (QalPerf) virtuously, H2428§
But thou excellest H5927 (QalPerf) them all.
[30] Favour H2580 is deceitful, H8267 and beauty H3308 is vain: H1892
But a woman H802 that feareth H3373 the Lord, H3068 she shall be praised. H1984 (HithImpf)
[31] Give H5414 (QalImpv) her of the fruit H6529 of her hands; H3027
And let her own works H4639 praise H1984 (PielImpf) her in the gates. H8179
Footnotes
- § 31:5a Heb. alter
- § 31:5b Heb. of all of the sons of affliction
- § 31:6 Heb. bitter of soul
- § 31:8 Heb. the sons of destruction
- § 31:16 Heb. taketh
- § 31:18 Heb. she tasteth
- § 31:21 Or, double garments
- § 31:29 Or, have gotten riches
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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