Berean Standard Bible

Proverbs 31

1These are the wordsH1697 of KingH4428 LemuelH3927—the burdenH4853 thatH834 his motherH517 taught himH3256:

2WhatH4100 shall I say,1 O my sonH1248?WhatH4100, O sonH1248 of my wombH990?WhatH4100, O sonH1248 of my vowsH5088?3Do notH408 spendH5414 your strengthH2428 on womenH802or your vigorH1870 on those who ruinH4229 kingsH4428.4It is notH408 for kingsH4428, O LemuelH3927,it is notH408 for kingsH4428 to drinkH8354 wineH3196,or for rulersH7336 to crave strong drinkH7941,5lestH6435 they drinkH8354 and forgetH7911 what is decreedH2710,deprivingH8138 allH3605 the oppressedH1121 H6040 of justiceH1779.

6GiveH5414 strong drinkH7941 to one who is perishingH6,and wineH3196 to the bitterH4751 in soulH5315.7Let him drinkH8354 and forgetH7911 his povertyH7389,and rememberH2142 his miseryH5999 noH3808 moreH5750.

8OpenH6605 your mouthH6310 for those with no voiceH483,forH413 the causeH1779 of allH3605 the dispossessedH1121 H2475.

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

9OpenH6605 your mouthH6310, judgeH8199 righteouslyH6664, and defend the causeH1777 of the poorH6041 and needyH34.

10A wifeH802 2 of noble characterH2428, whoH4310 can findH4672?She is farH7350 more preciousH4377 than rubiesH6443.

11The heartH3820 of her husbandH1167 trustsH982 in her,and he lacksH2637 nothingH3808 of valueH7998.12She brings himH1580 goodH2896 and notH3808 harmH7451allH3605 the daysH3117 of her lifeH2416.13She selectsH1875 woolH6785 and flaxH6593and worksH6213 with eagerH2656 handsH3709.14She isH1961 like the merchantH5503 shipsH591,bringingH935 her foodH3899 from afarH4801.

15She risesH6965 while it is stillH5750 nightH3915to provideH5414 foodH2964 for her householdH1004and portionsH2706 for her maidservantsH5291.16She appraisesH2161 a fieldH7704 and buys itH3947;from her earningsH6529 H3709 she plantsH5193 a vineyardH3754.17She girds herselfH2296 H4975 3 with strengthH5797and shows that her armsH2220 are strongH553.18She seesH2938 thatH3588 her gainH5504 is goodH2896,and her lampH5216 is notH3808 extinguishedH3518 at nightH3915.19She stretchesH7971 out her handsH3027 to the distaffH3601and graspsH8551 the spindleH6418 with her fingersH3709.

20She opensH6566 her armsH3709 to the poorH6041and reaches outH7971 her handsH3027 to the needyH34.21When it snowsH7950, she has noH3808 fearH3372 for her householdH1004,forH3588 they are allH3605 H1004 clothedH3847 in scarletH8144.422She makesH6213 coverings for her bedH4765;her clothingH3830 is fine linenH8336 and purpleH713.23Her husbandH1167 is knownH3045 at the city gatesH8179,where he sitsH3427 amongH5973 the eldersH2205 of the landH776.24She makesH6213 linen garmentsH5466 and sellsH4376 them;she deliversH5414 sashesH2290 to the merchantsH3669.

25StrengthH5797 and honorH1926 are her clothingH3830,and she can laughH7832 at the daysH3117 to comeH314.26She opensH6605 her mouthH6310 with wisdomH2451,and faithfulH2617 instructionH8451 is onH5921 her tongueH3956.27She watches overH6822 the affairsH1979 of her householdH1004and does notH3808 eatH398 the breadH3899 of idlenessH6104.28Her childrenH1121 rise upH6965 and call her blessedH833;her husbandH1167 praises her as wellH1984:29“ManyH7227 daughtersH1323 have doneH6213 noble thingsH2428,but youH859 surpassH5927 themH5921 allH3605!”

30CharmH2580 is deceptiveH8267 and beautyH3308 is fleetingH1892,but a womanH802 who fearsH3373 the LORDH3068 is to be praisedH1984.31GiveH5414 her the fruitH6529 of her handsH3027,and let her worksH4639 praise herH1984 at the gatesH8179.

1. Proverbs 31:2 Or What or What are you doing ↩
2. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. ↩
3. Proverbs 31:17 Hebrew She girds her loins ↩
4. Proverbs 31:21 Or doubly clothed ↩