Proverbs 31 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31 ▼
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1 The words of King Lemuel— a pronouncement with which his mother encouraged 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 No, my son! No, my son whom I conceived! No, my son to whom I gave birth! 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 Never devote all your energy to sex, or dedicate your life to destroying 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— Not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire 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 may drink and forget what has been ordained, perverting justice for all the oppressed. 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 someone who is perishing, and wine to someone who is deeply depressed. 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, forget his poverty, and remember his troubles 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 Speak for those who cannot speak; seek justice for all those on the verge 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 Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. 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 capable wife? Her value far exceeds the finest 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 has full confidence in her; as a result, he lacks nothing of value. 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 bring good to him—never evil— every day 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 flax, working with eager 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 a seagoing ship that 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 rises while it is still night, preparing meals for her family and providing for her women servants. 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 evaluates a field and purchases it; from the proceeds 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 clothes herself with fortitude, and fortifies her arms with strength. 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 is confident that her profits are sufficient. Her lamp does not go out 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 works with her own hands on her clothes — her hands work the sewing 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 reaches out to the poor, opening her hands to those in need. 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 is unafraid of winter's effect on her household, because all of them are warmly clothed. 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 creates her own bedding, using fine linen and violet 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.
23 Her husband is well known; he sits among the leaders 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 designs and sells linen garments, supplying accessories to clothiers. 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 dignity are her garments; she smiles about the future. 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 speaks wisely, teaching with gracious love. 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 looks discretely to the affairs of her household, and she is never lazy. 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 stand up and encourage her, as does her husband, who praises 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 women have done wonderful things,| he says, |but you surpass all of them!| “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty fades; but a woman who fears the LORD will 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 Reward her for her work— let her actions result in public praise. 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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