God's New Revelations

The Proverbs

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- Chapter 31 -

Utterances of Lemuel

1
These are sayings of King Lemuel, an oracle his mother taught him.
2
She says: You are my son; I carried you in my womb; you are my son, I made promises to Yahweh for you.
3
Do not give your strength to women; and do not tell what your plans are, to the women who destroy kings.
4
Lemuel, kings should be careful about drinking wine; and a king should never ask, “Where is the strong drink?”
5
They could drink but then they might forget that they made a decree of the king, and tear down the rights of those who have been taken advantage of.
6
Give strong drink to those who are dying and to those who are grieving their loss.
7
One who drinks will forget he is poor, and he will not remember his trouble.
8
Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, speak for those who are approaching death.
9
Speak out and render judgment according to what is right; and plead for justice to come in the cases of the poor and the needy.

The virtuous spouse

10
Who can find a wife who is good at many things? Her value is much more than the jewels she could wear.
11
Her husband completely trusts her, and because of her, he will never be poor.
12
She does good things for him and not evil, all the days of her life.
13
She finds wool and flax in the market, and she enjoys spinning it to make yarn and fabric.
14
She is like the merchant ships because she brings her food to her home from far away.
15
She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family, and she gives each servant girl her duties for the day.
16
She goes out and considers what field she will buy, and she buys it. With the money she has made in other ventures, she plants a vineyard.
17
She prepares herself with her strength, and her arms are strong, able to do hard work.
18
She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. She keeps a lamp burning all night long.
19
She holds the spindle, and then she spins the thread that she will use.
20
She gives an outstretched hand to help the poor.
21
She is not worried about the snow, for everyone in her house has the best winter coats.
22
She makes covers for the beds. She wears fine purple linen clothes, the color of royalty.
23
Her husband is well known at the city gates, and there at the gates he sits with the other leaders of the town.
24
She makes linen garments and she sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25
She is strong in her character and respected, and she laughs at what will happen in the future.
26
When she speaks, she says what is wise, and she lives by the law of kindness.
27
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and nothing in her actions would be anything like laziness.
28
Her children speak highly of her; her husband also praises her.
29
He says to her, “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30
Elegance can deceive and make you think more highly of a person than you should; and beauty has no lasting value. But a woman who honors Yahweh will be praised for the person she is.
31
Give her what she has earned, and her works will praise her among the leaders of the town.
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Utterances of Lemuel

1
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

The virtuous spouse

10
(a) Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
11
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

Footnotes

(a)31:10 Proverbs 31:10 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order.
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