Proverbs 31 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31 ▼
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1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that 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 son? And what, son of my womb? And what, 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? Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Do not give your strength to women, || And your ways to wiping away of 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, || Not for kings, to drink wine, || And for princes—a desire of 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, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, || And change the judgment of any of the sons 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 Give strong drink to the perishing, || And wine to the 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 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, || And he does not remember his misery again. 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, || For the right of all sons of change. 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, judge righteously, || Both the cause of the poor and needy!” 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 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies. 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 has trusted in her, || And he does not lack spoil. 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 has done him 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 with delight she works [with] 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 been as ships of the merchant, || She brings in her bread from afar. 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 Indeed, she rises while yet night, || And gives food to her household, || And a portion to her girls. 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 takes it, || She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands. 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 girded her loins with might, || And strengthens her arms. 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 perceived when her merchandise [is] good, || Her lamp is not extinguished in the 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 sent forth her hands on a spindle, || And her hands have held a distaff. 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 spread forth her hand to the poor, || Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy. 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 not afraid of her household from snow, || For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet. 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 ornamental coverings for herself, || Silk and purple [are] her clothing. 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 known in the gates, || In his sitting with [the] elderly 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 linen garments, and sells, || And she has given a girdle to the merchant. 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 honor [are] her clothing, || And she rejoices at a latter day. 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 in wisdom, || And the law of kindness [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 [is] watching the ways of her household, || And she does not eat bread of sloth. 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 have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, || Her husband, and he 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 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, || You have gone up above them all.” “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, || A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself. 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 of the fruit of her hands, || And her works praise 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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