Proverbs 31 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 31 ▼
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1 The words of Lemuel the king, the lifting up which his mother will instruct 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 the son of my womb? and what the 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 Thou shalt not give thy strength to women, and thy ways to the destroying 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 Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink and for princes the 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 shall drink and forget what is prescribed, and change the judgment of all 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 Ye shall give strong drink to him perishing, and wine to the bitter of 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 shall drink and forget his poverty, and shall no more remember his toil. 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 dumb, for the judgment of all the sons of the surviving. 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; judge justly, and contend for 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 Who shall find a woman of virtue? for her price is far above pearls. 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 trusted in her, and he shall not want 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 rewarded 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 sought wool and flax, and she will work in delight 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 was as the ships of the merchant; from far off she will bring her bread. 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 will rise while yet night, and she will give food to her house, 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 purposed a field, and he will take it: from the fruit of her hands she planted 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 girded her loins with strength, and she will strengthen 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 tasted that her traffic is good: her light will not go 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 sent forth her hands upon the spindle, and her hands take hold of the whirl. 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 spread forth her hands to the poor, and 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 will not fear for her house from snow, for all her house put on double. 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 made for herself coverings; byssus and purple 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 was known in the gates, in his sitting with the old men 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 made the under garment, and she will sell; and she gave a girdle to the Canaanite. 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 ornament her clothing; and she will laugh to the last 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 opened her mouth in wisdom, and the law of mercy upon 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 viewed the goings of her house, and the bread of sloth she will not eat. 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 rose up and they will call her happy; her husband, and he will praise 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 daughters did virtue, and thou wentest up over all of them. “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Favor a falsehood, and beauty vanity: a woman fearing Jehovah, she shall 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 Ye shall give her from the fruit of her hands, and her works shall 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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