Pro 31 | NASB1995 | STEP | The words of King Lemuel , the oracle which his mother taught him:

Proverbs 31

The Words of Lemuel

1 The words of King Lemuel, the ^{▼▼ Or burden}oracle which his mother taught him: 2 What, O my son?
And what, O ^bson of my womb?
And what, O son of my ^cvows?
3 ^dDo not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which ^edestroys kings.
4 It is not for ^fkings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to ^gdrink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And ^hpervert the ^{▼▼ Lit judgment}rights of all the ^{▼▼ Lit sons of affliction}afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ^kperishing,
And wine to him ^{▼▼ Lit bitter of soul
,} ^mwhose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
8 ⁿOpen your mouth for the mute,
For the ^{▼▼ Lit judgment}rights of all the ^{▼▼ Lit sons of passing away}unfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, ^qjudge righteously,
And ^{▼▼ Lit judge the afflicted}defend the ^srights of the afflicted and needy.

Description of a Worthy Woman

10 An ^texcellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far ^uabove jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax
And works with her ^{▼▼ Lit palms}hands ^{▼▼ Or willingly}in delight.
14 She is like ^xmerchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She ^yrises also while it is still night
And ^zgives food to her household
And ^{▼▼ Or prescribed tasks}portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From ^{▼▼ Lit the fruit of her palms}her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She ^acgirds ^{▼▼ Lit her loins}herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her ^{▼▼ Lit palms}hands grasp the spindle.
20 She ^{▼▼ Lit spreads out her palm
,} ^agextends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are ^ahclothed with scarlet.
22 She makes ^aicoverings for herself;
Her clothing is ^ajfine linen and ^akpurple.
23 Her husband is known ^alin the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes ^amlinen garments and sells them,
And ^{▼▼ Lit gives}supplies belts to the ^{▼▼ Lit Canaanite}tradesmen.
25 Strength and ^apdignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the ^{▼▼ Lit latter days}future.
26 She ^aropens her mouth in wisdom,
And the ^{▼▼ Or law}teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the ^atbread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who ^{▼▼ Or reverences
,} ^avfears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the ^{▼▼ Lit fruit}product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.