Pro 31 | LEB | STEP | The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle that his mother taught him:

Proverbs 31

The Oracle of King Lemuel

1 The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle
that his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? And what, my son in my womb?
And what, son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to the women,
and your ways to destroy kings.
4 It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;
drinking wine is not for the kings,
nor is strong drink for rulers.
5 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,
and he will pervert the rights ^{▼▼Hebrew “right”} of all the ⌞afflicted⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “sons of affliction”}
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
and wine to those ⌞in bitter distress⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “to bitterness of soul”}
7 He will drink and forget his poverty,
and his misery he will not remember any more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights ^{▼▼Hebrew “right”} of all the ⌞needy⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “the sons of the needy”}
9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness,
and defend the poor and needy.

An Excellent Woman ^{▼▼Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem}

10 A woman ^{▼▼Or “wife”} of excellence, ^{▼▼Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”} who will find?
For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
11 The heart of her husband ^{▼▼Or “lord”} trusts in her,
and gain he will not lack.
12 She does him good, but not harm
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and she works with the diligence of ⌞her hands⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “her palms”}
14 She is like the ships of a merchant;
from far off she brings her food; ^{▼▼Or “bread”}
15 And she arises while it is still night,
and gives food to her household,
and tasks to her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it,
from the fruit of ⌞her hand⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “her palm”} she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her waist in strength,
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her lamp does not go out in the night.
19 Her hands she puts onto the distaff, ^{▼▼A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning}
and her palms hold a spindle.
20 Her palm she opens to the poor,
and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
21 She does not fear for her house when it snows,
for ⌞her entire household⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “all her house, household”} is clothed in crimson.
22 She makes for herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband ^{▼▼Or “lord”} is known at the gates,
in his seat among the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she makes and sells,
and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs ⌞at the future⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “to the day/time coming after”}
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
27 She looks after the ways of her household,
and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
28 Her children rise and consider her happy,
her husband ^{▼▼Or “lord”} also, and he praises her;
29 “Many daughters have done excellence, ^{▼▼Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”}
but ⌞you surpass⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “you ascend over”} all of them.”
30 Charm ^{▼▼Hebrew “The charm”} is deceit and beauty ^{▼▼Hebrew “the beauty”} is vain; ^{▼▼Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”}
but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
and may they praise her works in the city gates.

Proverbs 31

The Oracle of King Lemuel

An Excellent Woman ▼▼Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem

An Excellent Woman ^{▼▼Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem}