Proverbs 31
New American Standard Bible►► 

The Words of Lemuel

1The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him:

2What, my son?

And what, son of my womb?

And what, son of my vows?

3Do not give your strength to women,

Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

4It is not for kings, Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,

5Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,

And pervert the [a]rights of all the [b]needy.

6Give intoxicating drink to one who is perishing,

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

7Let him drink and forget his poverty,

And remember his trouble no more.

8Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak,

For the [d]rights of all the [e]unfortunate.

9Open your mouth, judge righteously,

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

Description of a Worthy Woman

10An excellent wife, who can find her?

For her worth is far above jewels.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her,

And he will have no lack of gain.

12She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

13She looks for wool and linen,

And works with her [g]hands [h]in delight.

14She is like merchant ships;

She brings her food from afar.

15And she rises while it is still night

And gives food to her household,

And [i]portions to her attendants.

16She considers a field and buys it;

From [j]her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17She surrounds her waist with strength

And makes her arms strong.

18She senses that her profit is good;

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19She stretches out her hands to the [k]distaff,

And her [l]hands grasp the spindle.

20She [m]extends her hand to the poor,

And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22She makes coverings for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

24She makes linen garments and sells them,

And [n]supplies belts to the [o]tradesmen.

25Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the [p]future.

26She opens her mouth in wisdom,

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

27She watches over the activities of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

29“Many daughters have done nobly,

But you excel them all.”

30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

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

31Give her the [s]product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.



[a] 5 Lit judgment
[b] 5 Lit sons of affliction
[c] 6 Lit bitter of soul
[d] 8 Lit judgment
[e] 8 Lit sons of passing away
[f] 9 Lit judge the afflicted
[g] 13 Lit palms
[h] 13 Or willingly
[i] 15 Or prescribed tasks
[j] 16 Lit the fruit of her palms
[k] 19 I.e., the staff that holds the textile fibers for spinning
[l] 19 Lit palms
[m] 20 Lit spreads out her palm
[n] 24 Lit gives
[o] 24 Lit Canaanite
[p] 25 Lit latter days
[q] 26 Or law
[r] 30 Or reveres
[s] 31 Lit fruit

New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
For Permission to Quote Information visit www.lockman.org
















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Proverbs 30
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