Proverbs 31:1-22 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31:1-22 ▼
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1 The words of Lemuel the king—the burden that his mother taught him: The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows? What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Do not give your strength to the women, and your ways to wiping away kings. Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers strong drink, It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget the decree, and pervert the judgment of any of the sons of affliction. lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Give strong drink to the one perishing, and wine to those bitter of soul. Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and not remember his trouble anymore. let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for a mute one, for the cause of all the sons of destitution. Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Open your mouth, judge with righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor one and needy one. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
10 A wife of worth, who can find her? And far above rubies is her value. An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he is not lacking in spoil. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She has done him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She has sought wool and flax, and she works it with the delight of her palms. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the ships of a merchant—from afar she brings in her bread. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 And she rises and it is still night, and she provides food for her house, even the portion assigned to her maidservants. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it; from the fruit of her palms she plants a vineyard. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She tastes that her profit is good; her lamp is not extinguished in the night. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretched out her hands to the distaff, and her palms grasp the spindle. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 Her palm she spreads out to a poor one, and her hands she sends out to a needy one. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 She does not fear for her house because of snow, for all her house is clothed in scarlet. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 Coverings she has made for herself; fine linen and purple are her clothing. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
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