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The Blue Letter Bible

Proverbs 31 :: New International Version (NIV)

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Sayings of King Lemuel

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:1 - The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:2 - Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:3 - Do not spend your strength[fn] on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:4 - It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:5 - lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:6 - Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:7 - Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:8 - Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:9 - Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:10 - [fn]A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:11 - Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:12 - She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:13 - She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:14 - She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:15 - She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:16 - She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:17 - She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:18 - She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:19 - In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:20 - She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:21 - When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:22 - She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:23 - Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:24 - She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:25 - She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:26 - She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:27 - She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:28 - Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:29 - “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:30 - Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Unchecked Copy BoxPro 31:31 - Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
NIV Footnotes
Or wealth
Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
NIV

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.


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For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.

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Proverbs Chapter 31 — Additional Translations: