The Prophecy King Lemuel’s Mother Taught Him |
Proverbs 31:1-31 Proverbs [in Smaller Chunks] |
[These are] the words of king Lemuel & the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? What, the son of my womb? What the son of my vows? [Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her [nursing] child, that she shouldn’t have compassion on the son of her womb? [Yes,] they may forget, yet I won’t forget you.] |
[Don’t] give your strength to women, nor your [paths to what destroys] kings. O Lemuel, it isn’t [good] for kings to drink wine; nor princes strong drink: lest they drink & forget the Law & [divert the] [fair] judgment of any of the afflicted. |
Give strong drink to him, [who] is ready to perish & wine to those, [who have] heavy hearts. Let him drink & forget his poverty & [not] remember his misery [any] more. |
In the [case] of all [those who are scheduled for] destruction, open your mouth for the dumb, [unable to speak for themselves.] Open your mouth, judge righteously & plead the [case] of the poor & needy. |
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her [value] is far above rubies. Her [husband’s] heart safely [trusts] in her, so that he shall have no need [for plunder.] She will do good [for] him & not evil all the days of her life. |
She seeks wool & flax & willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; [in that] she brings her food from afar. Also, she rises while it is [still] night & gives [food] to her household & a portion to her maidens. |
She considers a field & buys it. [From] the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. She [clothes her body] with strength & strengthens her arms. She [realizes] that her merchandise is good & her [lamp doesn’t] go out [at] night. |
She lays her hands [on] the spindle & her hands hold the [bobbin.] She stretches her hand out to the poor; [yes] she [reaches] her hand [out] to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet [cloaks.] |
She makes herself [outer garments] of tapestry & her clothing is silk & purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes fine linen & sells it & delivers [sashes] to the merchant. |
Strength & honor are her clothing & she shall rejoice in [a] time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom & in her tongue is the Law of kindness. She looks [after] the [paths] of her household & [doesn’t] eat the bread of idleness. |
Her children [get] up & call her blessed & also her husband praises her. Many daughters have [behaved] virtuously, but you [excel] them all. |
[Charm] is deceitful & beauty is vain: but a woman, [who] fears [respects] the Lord, shall be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands & let her own [deeds] praise her in the gates. |