Proverbs 31 :: New International Version (NIV)

Sayings of King Lemuel

Pro 31:1

Pro 31:1The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

Pro 31:2

Pro 31:2Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!

Pro 31:3

Pro 31:3Do not spend your strength[fn] on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.

Pro 31:4

Pro 31:4It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,

Pro 31:5

Pro 31:5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Pro 31:6

Pro 31:6Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!

Pro 31:7

Pro 31:7Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Pro 31:8

Pro 31:8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Pro 31:9

Pro 31:9Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

Pro 31:10

Pro 31:10 [fn]A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Pro 31:11

Pro 31:11Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

Pro 31:12

Pro 31:12She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Pro 31:13

Pro 31:13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

Pro 31:14

Pro 31:14She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

Pro 31:15

Pro 31:15She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.

Pro 31:16

Pro 31:16She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Pro 31:17

Pro 31:17She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

Pro 31:18

Pro 31:18She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

Pro 31:19

Pro 31:19In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

Pro 31:20

Pro 31:20She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

Pro 31:21

Pro 31:21When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

Pro 31:22

Pro 31:22She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Pro 31:23

Pro 31:23Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

Pro 31:24

Pro 31:24She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

Pro 31:25

Pro 31:25She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

Pro 31:26

Pro 31:26She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Pro 31:27

Pro 31:27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Pro 31:28

Pro 31:28Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

Pro 31:29

Pro 31:29“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Pro 31:30

Pro 31:30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Pro 31:31

Pro 31:31Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NIV Footnotes

(31:3)

Or wealth

(31:10)

Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

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

Proverbs Chapter 31 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras

Proverbs 31 :: New International Version (NIV)

Sayings of King Lemuel

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

NIV Footnotes

Proverbs Chapter 31 — Additional Translations:

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