Proverbs 31
NIV — New International Version Bible (NIV)
NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)
Verse 1
The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
These are the sayings of King Lemuel. His mother taught them to him. These sayings came from God.
Verse 2
Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
Listen, my son! Listen, my very own son!
Listen, you who are the answer to my prayers!
Listen, you who are the answer to my prayers!
Verse 3
Don’t waste your strength on women.
Don’t waste it on those who destroy kings.
Don’t waste it on those who destroy kings.
Verse 4
It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
Lemuel, it isn’t good for kings to drink wine.
It isn’t good for rulers to long for beer.
It isn’t good for rulers to long for beer.
Verse 5
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
If they do, they might drink and forget what has been commanded.
They might take away the rights of all those who are treated badly.
They might take away the rights of all those who are treated badly.
Verse 6
Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
wine for those who are in anguish!
Let beer be for those who are dying.
Let wine be for those who are sad and troubled.
Let wine be for those who are sad and troubled.
Verse 7
Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
and remember their misery no more.
Let them drink and forget how poor they are.
Let them forget their suffering.
Let them forget their suffering.
Verse 8
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.
Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.
Verse 9
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
Speak up and judge fairly.
Speak up for the rights of those who are poor and needy.
Speak up for the rights of those who are poor and needy.
The Excellent Woman
Verse 10
Who can find an excellent woman?
She is worth far more than rubies.
She is worth far more than rubies.
Verse 11
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
and lacks nothing of value.
Her husband trusts her completely.
She gives him all the important things he needs.
She gives him all the important things he needs.
Verse 12
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
all the days of her life.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
all the days of her life.
Verse 13
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
and works with eager hands.
She chooses wool and flax.
She loves to work with her hands.
She loves to work with her hands.
Verse 14
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
bringing her food from afar.
She is like the ships of traders.
She brings her food from far away.
She brings her food from far away.
Verse 15
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She gets up while it is still night.
She provides food for her family.
She also gives some to her female servants.
She provides food for her family.
She also gives some to her female servants.
Verse 16
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She considers a field and buys it.
She uses some of the money she earns to plant a vineyard.
She uses some of the money she earns to plant a vineyard.
Verse 17
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She gets ready to work hard.
Her arms are strong.
Her arms are strong.
Verse 18
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
and her lamp does not go out at night.
She sees that her trading earns a lot of money.
Her lamp doesn’t go out at night.
Her lamp doesn’t go out at night.
Verse 19
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
With one hand she holds the wool.
With the other she spins the thread.
With the other she spins the thread.
Verse 20
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
and extends her hands to the needy.
She opens her arms to those who are poor.
She reaches out her hands to those who are needy.
She reaches out her hands to those who are needy.
Verse 21
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
When it snows, she’s not afraid for her family.
All of them are dressed in the finest clothes.
All of them are dressed in the finest clothes.
Verse 22
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
She makes her own bed coverings.
She is dressed in fine linen and purple clothes.
She is dressed in fine linen and purple clothes.
Verse 23
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
Her husband is respected at the city gate.
There he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
There he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
Verse 24
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She makes linen clothes and sells them.
She supplies belts to the traders.
She supplies belts to the traders.
Verse 25
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
she can laugh at the days to come.
She puts on strength and honor as if they were her clothes.
She can laugh at the days that are coming.
She can laugh at the days that are coming.
Verse 26
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She speaks wisely.
She teaches faithfully.
She teaches faithfully.
Verse 27
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She watches over family matters.
She is busy all the time.
She is busy all the time.
Verse 28
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
her husband also, and he praises her:
Her children stand up and call her blessed.
Her husband also rises up, and he praises her.
Her husband also rises up, and he praises her.
Verse 29
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
but you surpass them all.”
He says, “Many women do excellent things.
But you are better than all the others.”
But you are better than all the others.”
Verse 30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Charm can fool you. Beauty fades.
But a woman who has respect for the Lord should be praised.
But a woman who has respect for the Lord should be praised.
Verse 31
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Give her honor for all that her hands have done.
Let everything she has done bring praise to her at the city gate.
Let everything she has done bring praise to her at the city gate.