Bible Gateway passage: Proverbs 31 - New International Version (2024)

Sayings of King Lemuel

31The sayings^(A) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

²Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!^(B)
3Do not spend your strength^[a] on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.^(C)

⁴It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,^(D)
not for rulers to crave beer,
⁵lest they drink^(E) and forget what has been decreed,^(F)
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
⁶Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine^(G) for those who are in anguish!
⁷Let them drink^(H) and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.

⁸Speak^(I) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
⁹Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.^(J)

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^10[b]A wife of noble character^(K) who can find?^(L)
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹Her husband^(M) has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.^(N)
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.^(O)
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.^(P)
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²²She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders^(Q) of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.^(R)
27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise^(S) at the city gate.

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth
2. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Cross references

1. Proverbs 31:1 : S Pr 22:17
2. Proverbs 31:2 : S Jdg 11:30
3. Proverbs 31:3 : S Dt 17:17; S 1Ki 11:3; Pr 5:1-14
4. Proverbs 31:4 : S Pr 20:1; Ecc 10:16-17; Isa 5:22
5. Proverbs 31:5 : S 1Ki 16:9
6. Proverbs 31:5 : S Pr 16:12
7. Proverbs 31:6 : S Ge 14:18
8. Proverbs 31:7 : S Est 1:10
9. Proverbs 31:8 : S 1Sa 19:4
10. Proverbs 31:9 : S Pr 24:23; 29:7
11. Proverbs 31:10 : S Ru 3:11; S Pr 18:22
12. Proverbs 31:10 : Pr 8:35
13. Proverbs 31:11 : S Ge 2:18
14. Proverbs 31:11 : S Pr 12:4
15. Proverbs 31:13 : 1Ti 2:9-10
16. Proverbs 31:20 : Dt 15:11
17. Proverbs 31:23 : S Ex 3:16
18. Proverbs 31:26 : S Pr 10:31
19. Proverbs 31:31 : Pr 11:16