Proverbs 31 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31 ▼
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CPDV
Catholic Public Domain Version
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English Standard Version
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1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed 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 beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved 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 substance to women, or your riches to overthrow 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 to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns. 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 And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor. 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 grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in 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 them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more. 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 the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through. 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, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor. 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 Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price. 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 confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils. 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 will repay him with 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 has worked these by the counsel of her hands. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away. 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 has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids. 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 has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted 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 has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm. 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 has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at 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 has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of 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 She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor. 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 shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold. 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 She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment. 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.
23 Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits 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.
24 She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all. “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her own 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. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
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