Proverbs 31 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31 ▼
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BSB
Berean Standard Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
KJV
King James Version
NIV
New International Version
NLT
New Living Translation
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him. The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? 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? What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers! O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave 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, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.
5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice. lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul. Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well: Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!” “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
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