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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 31 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/31.htm" 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src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../proverbs/30.htm" title="Proverbs 30">◄</a> Proverbs 31 <a href="../ecclesiastes/1.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 1">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/proverbs/31.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Counsel from King Lemuel’s Mother</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>The words of King Lemuel—</p> <p class="poetry2">a pronouncement with which his mother encouraged him.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>No,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:2 Or What">a</a></span> my son!</p> <p class="poetry2">No,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:2 Or What">b</a></span> my son whom I conceived!<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:2 Lit. son of my womb?">c</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">No,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:2 Or What">d</a></span> my son to whom I gave birth!<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:2 Lit. son of my vows">e</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Never devote all your energy to sex,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:3 Lit. women">f</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">or dedicate your life<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:3 Lit. ways">g</a></span> to destroying kings.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>It is not for kings, Lemuel—</p> <p class="poetry2">Not for kings to drink wine</p> <p class="poetry2">or for rulers to desire liquor.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Otherwise, they may drink and forget what has been ordained,</p> <p class="poetry2">perverting justice for all the oppressed.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Give liquor to someone who is perishing,</p> <p class="poetry2">and wine to someone who is deeply depressed.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:6 Lit. one whose soul is bitter">h</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Let him drink, forget his poverty,</p> <p class="poetry2">and remember his troubles no more.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Speak for those who cannot speak;</p> <p class="poetry2">seek justice for all those on the verge of destruction.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:8 Lit. all sons of destruction">i</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Speak up, judge righteously,</p> <p class="poetry2">and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.</p> <p class="heading">The Honorable Woman</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Who can find a capable wife?</p> <p class="poetry2">Her value far exceeds the finest jewels.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Her husband has full confidence in her;</p> <p class="poetry2">as a result, he lacks nothing of value.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>She will bring good to him—never evil—</p> <p class="poetry2">every day of her life.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>She seeks out wool and flax,</p> <p class="poetry2">working with eager hands.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>She is like a seagoing ship</p> <p class="poetry2">that brings her food from far away.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>She rises while it is still night,</p> <p class="poetry2">preparing meals for her family</p> <p class="poetry2">and providing for her women servants.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>She evaluates a field and purchases it;</p> <p class="poetry2">from the proceeds she plants a vineyard.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>She clothes herself with fortitude,</p> <p class="poetry2">and fortifies her arms with strength.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>She is confident that her profits are sufficient.</p> <p class="poetry2">Her lamp does not go out at night.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>She works with her own hands on her clothes<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:19 Lit. staff">j</a></span> —</p> <p class="poetry2">her hands work the sewing spindle.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>She reaches out to the poor,</p> <p class="poetry2">opening her hands to those in need.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>She is unafraid of winter’s effect on<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:21 Lit. of the snow for">k</a></span> her household,</p> <p class="poetry2">because all of them are warmly clothed.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:21 Lit. are clothed in red">l</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>She creates her own bedding,</p> <p class="poetry2">using fine linen and violet cloth.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Her husband is well known;<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:23 Lit. is known in the gates">m</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">he sits among the leaders of the land.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>She designs and sells linen garments,</p> <p class="poetry2">supplying accessories<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:24 Or belts">n</a></span> to clothiers.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Strength and dignity are her garments;</p> <p class="poetry2">she smiles about the future.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>She speaks wisely,</p> <p class="poetry2">teaching with gracious love.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>She looks discretely to the affairs of her household,</p> <p class="poetry2">and she is never lazy.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:27 Lit. she does not eat the food of laziness">o</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Her children stand up and encourage her,</p> <p class="poetry2">as does her husband, who praises her:</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>“Many women have done wonderful things,” he says,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:29 The Heb. lacks he says">p</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">“but you surpass all of them!”</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Charm is deceitful and beauty fades;</p> <p class="poetry2">but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/31-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Reward her for her work—</p> <p class="poetry2">let her actions result in public praise.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="31:31 Lit. in praise in the gates">q</a></span> </p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 31:2 Or <i>What</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 31:2 Or <i>What</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 31:2 Lit.<i> son of my womb?</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 31:2 Or <i>What</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 31:2 Lit.<i> son of my vows</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 31:3 Lit. <i>women</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 31:3 Lit. <i>ways</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 31:6 Lit. <i>one whose soul is bitter</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 31:8 Lit. <i>all sons of destruction</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 31:19 Lit. <i>staff</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 31:21 Lit. <i>of the snow for</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 31:21 Lit. <i>are clothed in red</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 31:23 Lit. <i>is known in the gates</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 31:24 Or <i>belts</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 31:27 Lit. <i>she does not eat the food of laziness</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 31:29 The Heb. lacks <i>he says</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 31:31 Lit. <i>in praise in the gates</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../proverbs/30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../ecclesiastes/1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' 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