Proverbs 31
Berean Standard BibleTranslation
Berean Standard Bible
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
1These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
1The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
2What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
3Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
4Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
5And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
6Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
7Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
9Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
10Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
11The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
12She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
13She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
14She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
15And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
16She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
17She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
18She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
19She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
20She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
21She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
22She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
23Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
24She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
25Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
26She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
27She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
28Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
29Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
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