Proverbs 31

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa. The advice which his mother gave him:	1 The sayings of Lemuel king of Massa, taught him by his mother:
2 What, my son, my first-born! what, O son of my womb; what, O son of my vows!	2 What, my son! What, son of my womb! What, son of my vows!
3 Give not your vigor to women, nor your strength to those who ruin kings.	3 Do not expend your energy on women nor your wealth on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes!	4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings the drinking of wine, not for princes the love of liquor,
5 Lest in drinking they forget what the law decrees, and violate the rights of all who are in need.	5 for fear that in liquor they forget what they have decreed and pervert the course of justice against allthe poor.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed;	6 Procure strong drink for someone about to die, wine for him whose heart is heavy:
7 When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their burdens.	7 let him drink and forget his misfortune, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth in behalf of the dumb, and for the rights of the destitute;	8 Make your views heard, on behalf of the dumb, on behalf of al the unwanted;
9 Open your mouth, decree what is just, defend the needy and the poor!	9 make your views heard, pronounce an upright verdict, defend the cause of the poor and the wretched.
10 When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.	10 The truly capable woman -- who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls.
11 Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.	11 Her husband's heart has confidence in her, from her he wil derive no little profit.
12 She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.	12 Advantage and not hurt she brings him al the days of her life.
13 She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands.	13 She selects wool and flax, she does her work with eager hands.
14 Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar.	14 She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household.	15 She gets up while it is stil dark giving her household their food, giving orders to her serving girls.
16 She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.	16 She sets her mind on a field, then she buys it; with what her hands have earned she plants avineyard.
17 She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.	17 She puts her back into her work and shows how strong her arms can be.
18 She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed.	18 She knows that her affairs are going wel ; her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.	19 She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle.
20 She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.	20 She holds out her hands to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy.
21 She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are doubly clothed.	21 Snow may come, she has no fears for her household, with al her servants warmly clothed.
22 She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.	22 She makes her own quilts, she is dressed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.	23 Her husband is respected at the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.	24 She weaves materials and sel s them, she supplies the merchant with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come.	25 She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the day to come.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel.	26 When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely; on her tongue is kindly instruction.
27 She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness.	27 She keeps good watch on the conduct of her household, no bread of idleness for her.
28 Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:	28 Her children stand up and proclaim her blessed, her husband, too, sings her praises:
29 "Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all."	29 'Many women have done admirable things, but you surpass them all!'
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.	30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who fears Yahweh is the one to praise.
31 Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.	31 Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tel her praises at the citygates.