UST GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR EZRA NEH EST JOB PSA PROV ECC SNG ISA JER LAM EZE DAN HOS JOEL AMOS OBA YNA MIC NAH HAB ZEP HAG ZEC MAL MAT MARK LUKE YHN ACTs ROM 1 COR 2 COR GAL EPH PHP COL 1 TH 2 TH 1 TIM 2 TIM TIT PHM HEB YAC 1 PET 2 PET 1 YHN 2 YHN 3 YHN YUD REV

PROV C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31

UST PROV Chapter 31

◄ PROV 31 ║ ═ ©

31 These are the sayings of King Lemuel; Yahweh had spoken these sayings that his mother had taught him:

2 My son, whom I gave birth to

and whom I vowed to dedicate to Yahweh, listen to me!

3 Do not exhaust yourself by having sex with women;

they can destroy kings.

4 Lemuel, kings and dignitaries should not constantly drink wine,

or greatly desire to drink what can intoxicate them.”

5 They must not do this so that they do not forget the laws that they have made

and prevent all suffering people from getting what they legally deserve.

6 Let dying people drink what can intoxicate them,

and let miserable people drink wine.

7 They can drink what can intoxicate them to forget that they are poor

and to completely forget what troubles them.

8 Defend those who cannot speak for themselves;

defend all those whom others are threatening to kill so that they get what they legally deserve.

9 Defend, judge rightly,

and plead for suffering and poor people to get what they legally deserve.

10 Virtuous and capable women are difficult to find!

This kind of woman is more valuable than precious jewels.

11 Her husband completely trusts her,

and he will always gain many things because of her.

12 Such a woman benefits her husband

for as long as she lives.

13 She gets materials to make clothing for both warm and cool weather,

and she enjoys making that clothing.

14 She is like merchant ships

because she brings food to her home from distant places.

15 She gets up before dawn in order to prepare food for her family

and to prepare some food for her female servants.

16 She carefully evaluates a field and then buys it.

Then she uses some of what she earned by working to plant a vineyard in it.

17 She keeps her body strong,

and she makes her arms strong by working hard.

18 She knows that what she does is very profitable.

She works late into the night.

19 She makes thread for clothing with her own hands.

20 She generously helps people who are poor and suffering.

21 She is not worried that her family will be cold during cold weather

because her whole family has the best clothing.

22 She makes her own blankets to cover beds.

She wears clothing made from expensive cloth.

23 People respect such a woman’s husband at the city gates,

when he sits there with the other leaders of the city.

24 This woman makes clothing and sells it.

She also sells belts to merchants.

25 People notice how strong and dignified she is,

and she is cheerful about what will happen in the future.

26 She speaks wisely,

and when she speaks, she teaches others to be faithful and kind.

27 She carefully watches what happens in her household,

and she is never lazy.

28 This woman’s children stand respectfully and declare that she lives well.

Her husband says good things about her, as well.

29 He says to her, “Many women have acted virtuously and capably,

but you indeed have done better than them all!”

30 Charming women who are not good can deceive people into thinking that they are good,

and beautiful women will be beautiful for only a short time.

However, people will always praise those women who reverently fear Yahweh.

31 Give to such women what they have earned,

and praise them publicly for what they have done.

PROV C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31