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Proverbs 31 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

The Words of Lemuel

Pro 31:1

The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him:

Pro 31:2

What, my son?

And what, son of my womb?

And what, son of my vows?

Pro 31:3

Do not give your strength to women,

Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

Pro 31:4

It is not for kings, Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,

Pro 31:5

Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,

And pervert the [fn]rights of all the [fn]needy.

Pro 31:6

Give intoxicating drink to one who is perishing,

And wine to one [fn]whose life is bitter.

Pro 31:7

Let him drink and forget his poverty,

And remember his trouble no more.

Pro 31:8

Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak,

For the [fn]rights of all the [fn]unfortunate.

Pro 31:9

Open your mouth, judge righteously,

And [fn]defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Description of a Worthy Woman

Pro 31:10

An excellent wife, who can find her?

For her worth is far above jewels.

Pro 31:11

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

And he will have no lack of gain.

Pro 31:12

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

Pro 31:13

She looks for wool and linen,

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

Pro 31:14

She is like merchant ships;

She brings her food from afar.

Pro 31:15

And she rises while it is still night

And gives food to her household,

And [fn]portions to her attendants.

Pro 31:16

She considers a field and buys it;

From [fn]her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Pro 31:17

She surrounds her waist with strength

And makes her arms strong.

Pro 31:18

She senses that her profit is good;

Her lamp does not go out at night.

Pro 31:19

She stretches out her hands to the [fn]distaff,

And her [fn]hands grasp the spindle.

Pro 31:20

She [fn]extends her hand to the poor,

And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

Pro 31:21

She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Pro 31:22

She makes coverings for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Pro 31:23

Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

Pro 31:24

She makes linen garments and sells them,

And [fn]supplies belts to the [fn]tradesmen.

Pro 31:25

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the [fn]future.

Pro 31:26

She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the [fn]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Pro 31:27

She watches over the activities of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Pro 31:28

Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

Pro 31:29

“Many daughters have done nobly,

But you excel them all.”

Pro 31:30

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

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

Pro 31:31

Give her the [fn]product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.

NASB20 Footnotes
Lit judgment
Lit sons of affliction
Lit bitter of soul
Lit judgment
Lit sons of passing away
Lit judge the afflicted
Lit palms
Or willingly
Or prescribed tasks
Lit the fruit of her palms
I.e., the staff that holds the textile fibers for spinning
Lit palms
Lit spreads out her palm
Lit gives
Lit Canaanite
Lit latter days
Or law
Or reveres
Lit fruit
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Proverbs Chapter 31 — Additional Translations: