31
The Words of Lemuel
1 The words of King Lemuel, the 1Or burdenoracle which his mother taught him:
2 What, O my son?
And what, O AIs 49:15son of my womb?
And what, O son of my B1 Sam 1:11vows?
3 AProv 5:9Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which BDeut 17:17; 1 Kin 11:1; Neh 13:26destroys kings.
4 It is not for AEccl 10:17kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to BProv 20:1; Is 5:22; Hos 4:11drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And AEx 23:6; Deut 16:19; Prov 17:15pervert the 1Lit judgmentrights of all the 2Lit sons of afflictionafflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is AJob 29:13perishing,
And wine to him 1Lit bitter of soulBJob 3:20; Is 38:15whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
8 AJob 29:12-17; Ps 82Open your mouth for the mute,
For the 1Lit judgmentrights of all the 2Lit sons of passing awayunfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, ALev 19:15; Deut 1:16judge righteously,
And 1Lit judge the afflicteddefend the BIs 1:17; Jer 22:16rights of the afflicted and needy.
Description of a Worthy Woman
10 An ARuth 3:11; Prov 12:4; 19:14excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far BJob 28:18; Prov 8:11above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax
And works with her 1Lit palmshands 2Or willinglyin delight.
14 She is like AEzek 27:25merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She AProv 20:13; Rom 12:11rises also while it is still night
And BLuke 12:42gives food to her household
And 1Or prescribed tasksportions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From 1Lit the fruit of her palmsher earnings she plants a vineyard.
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her 1Lit palmshands grasp the spindle.
20 She 1Lit spreads out her palmADeut 15:11; Job 31:16-20; Prov 22:9; Rom 12:13; Eph 4:28extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are A2 Sam 1:24clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes AProv 7:16coverings for herself;
Her clothing is BGen 41:42; Rev 19:8, 14fine linen and CJudg 8:26; Luke 16:19purple.
23 Her husband is known ADeut 16:18; Ruth 4:1, 11in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
And 1Lit givessupplies belts to the 2Lit Canaanitetradesmen.
25 Strength and A1 Tim 2:9, 10dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the 1Lit latter daysfuture.
26 She AProv 10:31opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the 1Or lawteaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the AProv 19:15bread of idleness.
28 Her 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.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
31 Give her the 1Lit fruitproduct of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
131:1 Or burden
B31:3 Deut 17:17; 1 Kin 11:1; Neh 13:26
B31:4 Prov 20:1; Is 5:22; Hos 4:11
A31:5 Ex 23:6; Deut 16:19; Prov 17:15
131:5 Lit judgment
231:5 Lit sons of affliction
131:6 Lit bitter of soul
A31:8 Job 29:12-17; Ps 82
131:8 Lit judgment
231:8 Lit sons of passing away
131:9 Lit judge the afflicted
A31:10 Ruth 3:11; Prov 12:4; 19:14
131:13 Lit palms
231:13 Or willingly
131:15 Or prescribed tasks
131:16 Lit the fruit of her palms
A31:17 1 Kin 18:46; 2 Kin 4:29; Job 38:3
131:17 Lit her loins
131:19 Lit palms
131:20 Lit spreads out her palm
A31:20 Deut 15:11; Job 31:16-20; Prov 22:9; Rom 12:13; Eph 4:28
B31:22 Gen 41:42; Rev 19:8, 14
A31:23 Deut 16:18; Ruth 4:1, 11
131:24 Lit gives
231:24 Lit Canaanite
A31:25 1 Tim 2:9, 10
131:25 Lit latter days
131:26 Or law
131:30 Or reverences
131:31 Lit fruit