1 The sayings of King Lemuel – an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Do not spend your strengthon women,
your vigour on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel –
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Epilogue: the wife of noble character
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 ‘Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.’
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lordis to be praised.
31 Honour her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Footnotes for the Book of Proverbs
a17Orcovenant of her God
a7OrWisdom is supreme; therefore get
b7Orwisdom. / Whatever else you get
c26OrMake level
a3OrGo and humble yourself,
a5Septuagint; Hebrewfoolish, instruct your minds
b16Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscriptsall righteous rulers
c22Orway; ordominion
d22OrThe Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; orThe Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
e30Orwas the master worker; orwas a little child
a6Orrighteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence
b7See Gen. 48:20.
a27The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
a22Orshow
b33Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriacdiscerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
a20Orwhoever speaks prudently finds what is good
b21Orwords make a person persuasive
c23Orprudent / and make their lips persuasive
a27OrA person’s words are
a1Orwho
b7Orfor as he thinks within himself, / so he is; orfor as he puts on a feast, / so he is
a23Hebrew; Septuagintsmooth
a3OrA poor person
b18Syriac (see Septuagint);Hebrew into one
a1With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Textutterance to Ithiel, / to Ithiel and Ukal:
b31The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
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