Proverbs 31

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