Proverbs 31 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31 ▼
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GENEVA
Geneva Bible of 1587
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 The words of king Lemuel: The prophecie which 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 my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires! 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 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy 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 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke, 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 he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children 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 Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart. 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 drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie 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 thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction. 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 thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore. 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 finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles. 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 husbande trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle. 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 doe him good, and not euill all the dayes 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 seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes. 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 shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre. 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 riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides. 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 considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde. 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 girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes. 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 feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by 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 putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle 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 stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie. 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 feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet. 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 maketh her selfe carpets: 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 knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders 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 maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant. 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 honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce. 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 openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in 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 ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes. 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 children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying, 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 haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all. “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lorde, she shall be praysed. 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 Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in 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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