Proverbs Chapter 31
Other Translations
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
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What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
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Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
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It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
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— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
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Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
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let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
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Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
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Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
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Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
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The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
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She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
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She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
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She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
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And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
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She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
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She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
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She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
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She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
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She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
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She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
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She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
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Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
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She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
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Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
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She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
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She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
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Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
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Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
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Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
10
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
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The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
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For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
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Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
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She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
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And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
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She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants a possession.
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She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
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And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
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She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
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And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
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Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
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She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
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And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
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She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
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She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
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The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
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But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
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And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
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Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
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Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear of the Lord.
31
Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
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Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
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Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
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Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum: quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas.
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et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
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Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
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bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8
Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
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aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
10
Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
11
Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
12
Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
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Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
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Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
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Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
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Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
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Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
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Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
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Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
20
Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
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Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
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Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
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Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
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Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
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Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
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Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua eius.
27
Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
28
Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam prædicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
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Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
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Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
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Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
11
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2
`What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies <FI>is<Fi> her price.
11
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh <FI>with<Fi> her hands.
14
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18
She hath perceived when her merchandise <FI>is<Fi> good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed <FI>with<Fi> scarlet.
22
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple <FI>are<Fi> her clothing.
23
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25
Strength and honour <FI>are<Fi> her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness <FI>is<Fi> on her tongue.
27
She <FI>is<Fi> watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29
`Many <FI>are<Fi> the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30
The grace <FI>is<Fi> false, and the beauty <FI>is<Fi> vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).