International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1The words of King Lemuel— a pronouncement with which his mother encouraged him.

1דִּ֭בְרֵי לְמוּאֵ֣ל מֶ֑לֶךְ מַ֝שָּׂ֗א אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ יִסְּרַ֥תּוּ אִמּֽוֹ׃

2No, my son! No, my son whom I conceived! No, my son to whom I gave birth!

2מַה־ בְּ֭רִי וּמַֽה־ בַּר־ בִּטְנִ֑י וּ֝מֶה בַּר־ נְדָרָֽי׃

3Never devote all your energy to sex, or dedicate your life to destroying kings.

3אַל־ תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין׃

4It is not for kings, Lemuel— Not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire liquor.

4אַ֤ל לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים ׀ לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל אַ֣ל לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים שְׁתוֹ־ יָ֑יִן וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים [או] (אֵ֣י) שֵׁכָֽר׃

5Otherwise, they may drink and forget what has been ordained, perverting justice for all the oppressed.

5פֶּן־ יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח מְחֻקָּ֑ק וִֽ֝ישַׁנֶּה דִּ֣ין כָּל־ בְּנֵי־ עֹֽנִי׃

6Give liquor to someone who is perishing, and wine to someone who is deeply depressed.

6תְּנוּ־ שֵׁכָ֣ר לְאוֹבֵ֑ד וְ֝יַיִן לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ׃

7Let him drink, forget his poverty, and remember his troubles no more.

7יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח רִישׁ֑וֹ וַ֝עֲמָל֗וֹ לֹ֣א יִזְכָּר־ עֽוֹד׃

8Speak for those who cannot speak; seek justice for all those on the verge of destruction.

8פְּתַח־ פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל־ דִּ֝֗ין כָּל־ בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף׃

9Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

9פְּתַח־ פִּ֥יךָ שְׁפָט־ צֶ֑דֶק וְ֝דִ֗ין עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ פ

10Who can find a capable wife? Her value far exceeds the finest jewels.

10אֵֽשֶׁת־ חַ֭יִל מִ֣י יִמְצָ֑א וְרָחֹ֖ק מִפְּנִינִ֣ים מִכְרָֽהּ׃

11Her husband has full confidence in her; as a result, he lacks nothing of value.

11בָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר׃

12She will bring good to him—never evil— every day of her life.

12גְּמָלַ֣תְהוּ ט֣וֹב וְלֹא־ רָ֑ע כֹּ֝֗ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּֽיה׃‪‬

13She seeks out wool and flax, working with eager hands.

13דָּ֭רְשָׁה צֶ֣מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂ בְּחֵ֣פֶץ כַּפֶּֽיהָ׃

14She is like a seagoing ship that brings her food from far away.

14הָ֭יְתָה כָּאֳנִיּ֣וֹת סוֹחֵ֑ר מִ֝מֶּרְחָ֗ק תָּבִ֥יא לַחְמָֽהּ׃

15She rises while it is still night, preparing meals for her family and providing for her women servants.

15וַתָּ֤קָם ׀ בְּע֬וֹד לַ֗יְלָה וַתִּתֵּ֣ן טֶ֣רֶף לְבֵיתָ֑הּ וְ֝חֹ֗ק לְנַעֲרֹתֶֽיהָ׃

16She evaluates a field and purchases it; from the proceeds she plants a vineyard.

16זָמְמָ֣ה שָׂ֭דֶה וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ מִפְּרִ֥י כַ֝פֶּ֗יהָ [נטע] (נָ֣טְעָה) כָּֽרֶם׃

17She clothes herself with fortitude, and fortifies her arms with strength.

17חָֽגְרָ֣ה בְע֣וֹז מָתְנֶ֑יהָ וַ֝תְּאַמֵּ֗ץ זְרֹעוֹתֶֽיהָ׃

18She is confident that her profits are sufficient. Her lamp does not go out at night.

18טָ֭עֲמָה כִּי־ ט֣וֹב סַחְרָ֑הּ לֹֽא־ יִכְבֶּ֖ה [בליל] (בַלַּ֣יְלָה) נֵרָֽהּ׃

19She works with her own hands on her clothes — her hands work the sewing spindle.

19יָ֭דֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָ֣ה בַכִּישׁ֑וֹר וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָ תָּ֣מְכוּ פָֽלֶךְ׃

20She reaches out to the poor, opening her hands to those in need.

20כַּ֭פָּהּ פָּרְשָׂ֣ה לֶעָנִ֑י וְ֝יָדֶ֗יהָ שִׁלְּחָ֥ה לָֽאֶבְיֽוֹן׃

21She is unafraid of winter's effect on her household, because all of them are warmly clothed.

21לֹא־ תִירָ֣א לְבֵיתָ֣הּ מִשָּׁ֑לֶג כִּ֥י כָל־ בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּ לָבֻ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃

22She creates her own bedding, using fine linen and violet cloth.

22מַרְבַדִּ֥ים עָֽשְׂתָה־ לָּ֑הּ שֵׁ֖שׁ וְאַרְגָּמָ֣ן לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃

23Her husband is well known; he sits among the leaders of the land.

23נוֹדָ֣ע בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים בַּעְלָ֑הּ בְּ֝שִׁבְתּ֗וֹ עִם־ זִקְנֵי־ אָֽרֶץ׃

24She designs and sells linen garments, supplying accessories to clothiers.

24סָדִ֣ין עָ֭שְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּ֑ר וַ֝חֲג֗וֹר נָתְנָ֥ה לַֽכְּנַעֲנִֽי׃

25Strength and dignity are her garments; she smiles about the future.

25עֹז־ וְהָדָ֥ר לְבוּשָׁ֑הּ וַ֝תִּשְׂחַ֗ק לְי֣וֹם אַחֲרֽוֹן׃

26She speaks wisely, teaching with gracious love.

26פִּ֭יהָ פָּתְחָ֣ה בְחָכְמָ֑ה וְתֽוֹרַת־ חֶ֝֗סֶד עַל־ לְשׁוֹנָֽהּ׃

27She looks discretely to the affairs of her household, and she is never lazy.

27צ֭וֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכ֣וֹת בֵּיתָ֑הּ וְלֶ֥חֶם עַ֝צְל֗וּת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵֽל׃

28Her children stand up and encourage her, as does her husband, who praises her:

28קָ֣מוּ בָ֭נֶיהָ וַֽיְאַשְּׁר֑וּהָ בַּ֝עְלָ֗הּ וַֽיְהַֽלְלָהּ׃‪‬‪‬

29"Many women have done wonderful things," he says, "but you surpass all of them!"

29רַבּ֣וֹת בָּ֭נוֹת עָ֣שׂוּ חָ֑יִל וְ֝אַ֗תְּ עָלִ֥ית עַל־ כֻּלָּֽנָה׃

30Charm is deceitful and beauty fades; but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.

30שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭חֵן וְהֶ֣בֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי אִשָּׁ֥ה יִרְאַת־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה הִ֣יא תִתְהַלָּֽל׃

31Reward her for her work— let her actions result in public praise.

31תְּנוּ־ לָ֭הּ מִפְּרִ֣י יָדֶ֑יהָ וִֽיהַלְל֖וּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִ֣ים מַעֲשֶֽׂיהָ׃

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.