Proverbs 31 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31 ▼
swipe to see more →
NABRE
New American Bible Revised
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, the instruction 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 are you doing, my son! what are you doing, son of my womb; what are you doing, 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 vigor to women, or your strength 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, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes, 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 in drinking they forget what has been decreed, and violate the rights of any who are in need. 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 anyone who is perishing, and wine to the embittered; 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 When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their troubles. 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 in behalf of the mute, and for the rights of the destitute; 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 justly, defend the needy 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 can find a woman of worth? Far beyond jewels is her value. 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 judgment; he does not lack income. 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 brings him profit, not loss, 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 flax and weaves with skillful hands. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 Like a merchant fleet, she secures her provisions 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 She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household, a portion to her maidservants. 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 acquires it; from her earnings 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 girds herself with strength; she exerts her arms with vigor. 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 enjoys the profit from her dealings; her lamp is never 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 puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply 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 reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms 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 concerned for her household when it snows— all her charges are doubly 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 makes her own coverlets; fine linen 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 prominent at the city gates as he sits 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 makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts. 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 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come. 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 opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction 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 watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of 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 children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, too, 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 are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled 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 deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to 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 Acclaim her for the work of her hands, and let her deeds praise her at the city 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.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page