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Proverbs 31 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

A Mother’s Oracle

Pro 31:1

The words of King Lemuel, the [fn]oracle unto which his mother disciplined him:

Pro 31:2

What, O my son?

And what, O son of my womb?

And what, O son of my vows?

Pro 31:3

Do not give your excellence to women,

Or your ways to that which blots out kings.

Pro 31:4

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

Pro 31:5

Lest he drink and forget what is decreed,

And pervert the justice of all the [fn]afflicted.

Pro 31:6

Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

And wine to those whose soul is bitter.

Pro 31:7

Let him drink and forget his poverty

And he will not remember his trouble any longer.

Pro 31:8

Open your mouth for the mute,

For the justice of all those [fn]passing away.

Pro 31:9

Open your mouth, judge righteously,

And render justice to the afflicted and needy.

A Woman Who Fears Yahweh

Pro 31:10

Aleph

[fn]An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above pearls.

Pro 31:11

Beth

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

And he will have no lack of gain.

Pro 31:12

Gimel

She deals bountifully with him for good and not evil

All the days of her life.

Pro 31:13

Daleth

She searches for wool and flax

And works with her [fn]hands [fn]in delight.

Pro 31:14

He

She is like merchant ships;

She brings her food from afar.

Pro 31:15

Vav

And she rises while it is still night,

And gives [fn]food to her household

And a [fn]portion to her young women.

Pro 31:16

Zayin

She makes plans for a field and buys it;

From the fruit of her [fn]hands she plants a vineyard.

Pro 31:17

Heth

She girds [fn]herself with strength

And makes her arms strong.

Pro 31:18

Teth

She senses that her gain is good;

Her lamp does not go out at night.

Pro 31:19

Yodh

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her [fn]hands hold fast the spindle.

Pro 31:20

Kaph

She [fn]extends her hand to the poor,

And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

Pro 31:21

Lamedh

She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Pro 31:22

Mem

She makes coverings for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Pro 31:23

Nun

Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits with the elders of the land.

Pro 31:24

Samekh

She makes linen garments and sells them,

And gives belts to the [fn]tradesmen.

Pro 31:25

Ayin

Strength and majesty are her clothing,

And she smiles at the [fn]future.

Pro 31:26

Pe

She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the [fn]instruction of lovingkindness is on her tongue.

Pro 31:27

Tsadhe

She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of [fn]idleness.

Pro 31:28

Qoph

Her children rise up and bless her;

As for her husband, he also praises her, saying:

Pro 31:29

Resh

“Many daughters have done excellently,

But you have gone above them all.”

Pro 31:30

Shin

[fn]Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who [fn]fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.

Pro 31:31

Tav

Give to her from the fruit of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.

LSB Footnotes
Or burden
Lit sons of affliction
Lit sons of passing away
Lit a woman of excellence, a woman of strength
Lit palms
Or willingly
Lit prey
Or prescribed task
Lit palms
Lit her loins
Lit palms
Lit spreads out her palm
Lit Canaanite
Lit latter days
Or law
Lit being a sluggard
Lit Gracefulness
Or reverences
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