Previous Chapter Full Page Full Page Next Chapter

Proverbs 31 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

The Words of King Lemuel

Pro 31:1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
Pro 31:2What are you doing, my son?[fn] What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?
Pro 31:3Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
Pro 31:4It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to take strong drink,
Pro 31:5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Pro 31:6Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;[fn]
Pro 31:7let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
Pro 31:8Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.[fn]
Pro 31:9Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

Pro 31:10[fn] An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
Pro 31:11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
Pro 31:12She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
Pro 31:13She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
Pro 31:14She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
Pro 31:15She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
Pro 31:16She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Pro 31:17She dresses herself[fn] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
Pro 31:18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
Pro 31:19She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
Pro 31:20She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Pro 31:21She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[fn]
Pro 31:22She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Pro 31:23Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
Pro 31:24She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Pro 31:25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
Pro 31:26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Pro 31:27She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Pro 31:28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Pro 31:29“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Pro 31:30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Pro 31:31Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
ESV Footnotes
Hebrew What, my son?
Hebrew those bitter in soul
Hebrew are sons of passing away
Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
Hebrew She girds her loins
Or in double thickness
Translation Copyright Logo

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

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

Proverbs Chapter 31 — Additional Translations: