Proverbs 31
MSG — The Message Bible (MSG)
NLT — New Living Translation Bible (NLT)
Verse 1
The words of King Lemuel,
the strong advice his mother gave him:
the strong advice his mother gave him:
The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message,[a] which his mother taught him.
Verse 2
“Oh, son of mine, what can you be thinking of!
Child whom I bore! The son I dedicated to God!
Don’t dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women,
promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.
Child whom I bore! The son I dedicated to God!
Don’t dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women,
promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.
O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
O son of my vows,
Verse 3
— not in MSG
do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.
on those who ruin kings.
Verse 4
“Leaders can’t afford to make fools of themselves,
gulping wine and swilling beer,
Lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong,
and the people who depend on them are hurt.
Use wine and beer only as sedatives,
to kill the pain and dull the ache
Of the terminally ill,
for whom life is a living death.
gulping wine and swilling beer,
Lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong,
and the people who depend on them are hurt.
Use wine and beer only as sedatives,
to kill the pain and dull the ache
Of the terminally ill,
for whom life is a living death.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
Verse 5
— not in MSG
For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.
and not give justice to the oppressed.
Verse 6
— not in MSG
Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.
and wine for those in bitter distress.
Verse 7
— not in MSG
Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.
and remember their troubles no more.
Verse 8
“Speak up for the people who have no voice,
for the rights of all the down-and-outers.
Speak out for justice!
Stand up for the poor and destitute!”
for the rights of all the down-and-outers.
Speak out for justice!
Stand up for the poor and destitute!”
Hymn to a Good Wife
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
ensure justice for those being crushed.
Verse 9
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Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.
and see that they get justice.
A Wife of Noble Character
Verse 10
A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
Verse 11
— not in MSG
Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
and she will greatly enrich his life.
Verse 12
— not in MSG
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
all the days of her life.
Verse 13
— not in MSG
She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
and busily spins it.
Verse 14
— not in MSG
She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
bringing her food from afar.
Verse 15
— not in MSG
She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
Verse 16
— not in MSG
She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Verse 17
— not in MSG
She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
a hard worker.
Verse 18
— not in MSG
She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
her lamp burns late into the night.
Verse 19
— not in MSG
Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
her fingers twisting fiber.
Verse 20
— not in MSG
She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
and opens her arms to the needy.
Verse 21
— not in MSG
She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.
Verse 22
— not in MSG
She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
Verse 23
— not in MSG
Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
Verse 24
— not in MSG
She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
Verse 25
— not in MSG
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
and she laughs without fear of the future.
Verse 26
— not in MSG
When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
and she gives instructions with kindness.
Verse 27
— not in MSG
She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
and suffers nothing from laziness.
Verse 28
— not in MSG
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
Her husband praises her:
Verse 29
— not in MSG
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
but you surpass them all!”
Verse 30
— not in MSG
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Verse 31
— not in MSG
Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.