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Proverbs 31

The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy his mother taught him. What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows? Don't give your strength to women or your ways to what destroys kings. It is not for kings, Lemuel—it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to desire strong drink,

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The words of King Lemuel

The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy his mother taught him. What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows? Don't give your strength to women or your ways to what destroys kings. It is not for kings, Lemuel—it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to desire strong drink, or they may drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink to the one ready to perish, and wine to those with heavy hearts. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open your mouth for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the cause of all who are appointed to destruction. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The words of King Lemuel, the message that his mother taught him. What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? Don't give your strength to women, or your ways to what wipes out kings. It isn't for kings, Lemuel, it isn't for kings to drink wine, or for leaders to want strong drink — or they'll drink and forget the law and twist the judgment of any of the troubled. Give strong drink to the one who's dying, and wine to the ones with heavy hearts. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more. Open your mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all who are set for wrecking. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and take up the case of the poor and needy.

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

1

The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy his mother taught him.

Plain English

The words of King Lemuel, the message that his mother taught him.

King James Version, 1611

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2

What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?

Plain English

What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

King James Version, 1611

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3

Don't give your strength to women or your ways to what destroys kings.

Plain English

Don't give your strength to women, or your ways to what wipes out kings.

King James Version, 1611

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4

It is not for kings, Lemuel—it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to desire strong drink,

Plain English

It isn't for kings, Lemuel, it isn't for kings to drink wine, or for leaders to want strong drink —

King James Version, 1611

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5

or they may drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Plain English

or they'll drink and forget the law and twist the judgment of any of the troubled.

King James Version, 1611

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6

Give strong drink to the one ready to perish, and wine to those with heavy hearts.

Plain English

Give strong drink to the one who's dying, and wine to the ones with heavy hearts.

King James Version, 1611

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7

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

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

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

8

Open your mouth for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the cause of all who are appointed to destruction.

Plain English

Open your mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all who are set for wrecking.

King James Version, 1611

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Plain English

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and take up the case of the poor and needy.

King James Version, 1611

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

A woman of worth

Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so he will have no lack of gain. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands. She is like merchant ships, bringing her food from far away. She rises while it is still night, gives food to her household and a portion to her young women. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She wraps strength around her waist and makes her arms strong. She knows her trading is profitable; her candle does not go out at night. She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretches out her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She isn't afraid of snow for her household, because all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes fine linen and sells it, and delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing, and she will rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband does too, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done virtuously, but you surpass them all.’ Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Who can find a woman of worth? Because her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusts safely in her, so he won't go short of gain. She'll do him good and not harm, all the days of her life. She looks for wool and flax and works willingly with her hands. She's like the merchant ships. She brings her food from far off. She gets up while it's still night too, and gives food to her household and their share to her servant girls. She thinks about a field and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She strapped her waist with strength and makes her arms strong. She sees that what she trades is good. Her lamp doesn't go out at night. She puts her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She reaches out her hand to the poor. Yes, she stretches out her hands to the needy. She isn't frightened of the snow for her household, because all her household are dressed in scarlet. She makes herself coverings of tapestry. Her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes fine linen and sells it, and hands sashes to the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing, and she'll celebrate in the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the teaching of kindness. She watches well over the ways of her household and doesn't eat the bread of idleness. Her children get up and call her blessed. Her husband too, and he praises her: Plenty of daughters have done well, but you're better than all of them. Favour is a trick and beauty is empty, but a woman who fears the Lord — she'll be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

10

Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies.

Plain English

Who can find a woman of worth? Because her worth is far above rubies.

King James Version, 1611

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11

The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so he will have no lack of gain.

Plain English

The heart of her husband trusts safely in her, so he won't go short of gain.

King James Version, 1611

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Plain English

She'll do him good and not harm, all the days of her life.

King James Version, 1611

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13

She seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands.

Plain English

She looks for wool and flax and works willingly with her hands.

King James Version, 1611

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14

She is like merchant ships, bringing her food from far away.

Plain English

She's like the merchant ships. She brings her food from far off.

King James Version, 1611

She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15

She rises while it is still night, gives food to her household and a portion to her young women.

Plain English

She gets up while it's still night too, and gives food to her household and their share to her servant girls.

King James Version, 1611

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16

She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

Plain English

She thinks about a field and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

King James Version, 1611

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17

She wraps strength around her waist and makes her arms strong.

Plain English

She strapped her waist with strength and makes her arms strong.

King James Version, 1611

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18

She knows her trading is profitable; her candle does not go out at night.

Plain English

She sees that what she trades is good. Her lamp doesn't go out at night.

King James Version, 1611

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19

She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Plain English

She puts her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

King James Version, 1611

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20

She stretches out her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

Plain English

She reaches out her hand to the poor. Yes, she stretches out her hands to the needy.

King James Version, 1611

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21

She isn't afraid of snow for her household, because all her household are clothed in scarlet.

Plain English

She isn't frightened of the snow for her household, because all her household are dressed in scarlet.

King James Version, 1611

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22

She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Plain English

She makes herself coverings of tapestry. Her clothing is silk and purple.

King James Version, 1611

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23

Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

Plain English

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

King James Version, 1611

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24

She makes fine linen and sells it, and delivers sashes to the merchant.

Plain English

She makes fine linen and sells it, and hands sashes to the merchant.

King James Version, 1611

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25

Strength and honour are her clothing, and she will rejoice in time to come.

Plain English

Strength and honour are her clothing, and she'll celebrate in the time to come.

King James Version, 1611

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.

Plain English

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the teaching of kindness.

King James Version, 1611

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27

She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Plain English

She watches well over the ways of her household and doesn't eat the bread of idleness.

King James Version, 1611

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband does too, and he praises her:

Plain English

Her children get up and call her blessed. Her husband too, and he praises her:

King James Version, 1611

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29

‘Many daughters have done virtuously, but you surpass them all.’

Plain English

Plenty of daughters have done well, but you're better than all of them.

King James Version, 1611

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30

Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.

Plain English

Favour is a trick and beauty is empty, but a woman who fears the Lord — she'll be praised.

King James Version, 1611

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31

Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

King James Version, 1611

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.