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Mishle 31
Orthodox Jewish Bible
Mishle 31
Orthodox Jewish Bible
31 The devarim of Lemuel Melech, the massa (burden, oracle) that immo taught him.
2 What, my bar (son, see Ps 2:12)? And what, the bar of my womb? And what, the bar of my nedarim (vows)?
3 Give not thy strength unto nashim, nor thy drakhim to that which destroyeth melachim.
4 It is not for melachim, O Lemuel, it is not for melachim to drink yayin; nor for rulers to crave strong drink;
5 Lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice of the bnei oni (all the oppressed afflicted people).
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and yayin unto those that be of bitter nefesh.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his amal (misery) no more.
8 Open thy peh (mouth) for the illem (mute) in the cause of all such as are bnei chalof (sons of destitution).
9 Open thy peh (mouth), judge tzedek, and plead the cause of the oni and the evyon.
10 Who can find an aishes chayil (a woman of valor, an excellent wife Prov 12:4)? For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The lev of her ba’al (husband) doth securely trust in her, so that he shall have no lack of gain.
12 She will do him tov and not rah all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh tzemer (wool), and flax, and worketh willingly with her palms.
14 She is like the oniyyot socher (ship merchant); she bringeth her lechem from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet lailah, and provideth food to her bais, and a chok (portion) to her na’arot (servant girls).
16 She considereth a sadeh, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her palms she planteth a kerem (vineyard).
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her zero’ot (arms).
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is tov; her ner (light) goeth not out balailah.
19 She layeth her yadayim to the distaff, and her fingers lay hold of the spindle.
20 She extends her palms to the oni; indeed, she reacheth forth her yadayim to the evyon (needy).
21 She is not afraid of the sheleg (snow) for her bais; for all her bais are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her levush (clothing) is fine linen and purple.
23 Her ba’al (husband) is known in the she’arim, when he sitteth among the ziknei eretz.
24 She maketh fine garments, and selleth them; and delivereth sashes unto the kena’ani (merchant).
25 Oz (strength) and hadar (dignity) are her clothing; and her smile is toward the yom acharon (coming day, future).
26 She openeth her peh (mouth) with chochmah; and on her lashon is the torat chesed (teaching of kindness).
27 She watcheth well over the halichot (goings, ways) of her bais (household), and eateth not the lechem atzlut (bread of idleness).
28 Her banim rise up, and call her blessed; her ba’al (husband) also, and he praiseth her.
29 Rabbot banot have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Chen (charm) is sheker (deceitful), and yofi (beauty) is fleeting; but an isha Yirat Hashem (a G-d fearing wife), she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the p’ri (fruit) of her yadayim; and let her own ma’asim praise her in the she’arim.
Proverbs 31
New International Version
Proverbs 31
New International Version
Sayings of King Lemuel
31 The sayings(A) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!(B)
3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.(C)
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,(D)
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink(E) and forget what has been decreed,(F)
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine(G) for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink(H) and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 Speak(I) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.(J)
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [b]A wife of noble character(K) who can find?(L)
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband(M) has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.(N)
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.(O)
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.(P)
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders(Q) of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.(R)
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise(S) at the city gate.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth
- Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
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