Proverbs 31:1-22 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31:1-22 ▼
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1 The sayings of King Lemuel, a prophetic revelation, used by his mother to discipline 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 son? What, son to whom I gave birth? What, son of my prayers? 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 Don't give your strength to women or your power to those who ruin 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, Lemuel. It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor. 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 Otherwise, they drink and forget what they have decreed and change the standard of justice for all oppressed people. 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 liquor to a person who is dying and wine to one who feels resentful. 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 Such a person drinks and forgets his poverty and does 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 |Speak out for the one who cannot speak, for the rights of those who are doomed. 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 Speak out, judge fairly, and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people.| 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 can find a wife with a strong character? She is worth far more than jewels. 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 Her husband trusts her with [all] his heart, and he does not lack anything good. 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 helps him and never harms him 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 seeks out wool and linen [with care] and works with willing hands. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like merchant ships. She brings her food 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 She wakes up while it is still dark and gives food to her family and portions of food to her female slaves. 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 picks out a field and buys it. She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned. 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 puts on strength like a belt and goes to work with energy. 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 sees that she is making a good profit. Her lamp burns late 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 puts her hands on the distaff, and her fingers hold a 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 opens her hands to oppressed people and stretches them out to needy people. 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 family when it snows because her whole family has a double layer of clothing. 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 makes quilts for herself. Her clothes are [made of] linen and purple cloth. 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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