OET-RV PROV Chapter 31

31 These are the sayings by King Lemuel, the burden, that his mother had taught him:

2 Now what my son? My son that I gave birth to.

≈ The son from my marriage.

3 Don’t give your strength to women,

or use your intelligence to destroy kings.

4 Lemuel, it’s not for kings to drink wine

or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5 in case they drink and forget their own laws

and end up depriving the poor of justice.

6 Give strong drink to those who are dying,

≈ and wine to those who are bitterly depressed.

7 They’ll drink it then forget their poverty,

≈ and not remember their misery any more.

8 Open your mouth for those who can’t speak—

for the cause of all those who are dying.

9 Open your mouth to promote justice,

and to defend the poor and needy.

א (Alef)

10 Who can find a capable wife,

→ and she’ll be worth far more than jewels?

ב (Beyt)

11 Her husband trusts her completely,

→ and he doesn’t lack in prosperity.

ג (Gimel)

12 She doesn’t harm him, but does him good,

right throughout her life.

ד (Dalet)

13 She searches for wool and flax,

and works eagerly with her hands.

ה (He)

14 She’s like those merchant ships—

she brings her food from far away.

ו (Vav)

15 She gets up when it’s still dark

to provide food for her household

and her servant girls.

ז (Zayin)

16 She appraises a field and buys it.

Using her own earnings, she plants a vineyard.

ח (Het)

17 She keeps herself fit,

and her arms are strong.

ט (Tet)

18 She’s aware that her merchandise is quality.

Her lamp doesn’t go out at night.

י (Yod)

19 Her hands work the spindle—

spinning thread for cloth.

כ (Kaf)

20 She’s generous to the poor,

≈ and reaches out to the needy.

ל (Lamed)

21 She’s not worried about her household when it snows,

because they’re all dressed in quality clothes.

מ (Mem)

22 She makes blankets for herself,

≈ fine linen, and her purple clothing.

נ (Nun)

23 Her husband is well-known in the community,

where he sits with the nation’s elders.

ס (Samek)

24 She makes linen clothes and sells them,

≈ and she supplies sashes to the merchants.

ע (Ayin)

25 She’s clothed with strength and dignity,

and she laughs as she thinks about the future.

פ (Pe)

26 It’s always wisdom that comes out of her mouth,

≈ and loyal commitment guides the instructions on her tongue.

צ (Tsade)

27 She keeps an eye on the comings and goings of her household,

and she doesn’t indulge in laziness.

ק (Qof)

28 Her sons stand and compliment her,

≈ and her husband also praises her:

ר (Resh)

29 “There’s many women with ability,

^ but you’re better than any of them.”

ש (Sin/Shin)

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting,

^ but a woman that honours and strives to obey Yahweh will be praised.

ת (Tav)

31 Give her the honour that she deserves,

≈ and let her abilities praise her at the city gates.