New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures — With References (Rbi8, en_US, 1984)

Proverbs

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27

28

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31

Proverbs, 31

1 The words of Lemʹu·el*1 the king, the weighty message that his mother gave to him in correction:

  1. Meaning “Belonging to God.”

2 What [am I saying], O son of mine,*1 and what, O son of my belly, and what, O son of my vows?

  1. Lit., “O my son.” Heb., beriʹ (from bar, which is Biblical Aram.). See Ps 2:12 ftn, “Son.”

3 Do not give your vital energy to women, nor your ways to [what leads to] wiping out kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemʹu·el, it is not for kings to drink wine or for high officials [to say:] “Where is intoxicating liquor?”

5 that one may not drink and forget what is decreed and pervert the cause of any of the sons of affliction.

6 Give intoxicating liquor, YOU people, to the one about to perish and wine to those who are bitter of soul.

7 Let one drink and forget one’s poverty, and let one remember one’s own trouble no more.

8 Open your mouth for the speechless one, in the cause of all those passing away.*1

  1. Lit., “all the sons of the passing away.”

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously and plead the cause of the afflicted one and the poor one.

א [ʼAʹleph]

10 A capable wife who can find? Her value is far more than that of corals.

ב [Behth]

11 In her the heart of her owner*1 has put trust, and there is no gain lacking.

  1. “Her owner.” Heb., baʽ·lahʹ.

ג [Giʹmel]

12 She has rewarded him with good, and not bad, all the days of her life.

ד [Daʹleth]

13 She has sought wool and linen, and she works at whatever is the delight of her hands.

ה [Heʼ]

14 She has proved to be like the ships of a merchant. From far away she brings in her food.*1

  1. Or, “her bread.” Heb., lach·mahʹ (from leʹchem, as in vs 27).

ו [Waw]

15 She also gets up while it is still night, and gives food*1 to her household and the prescribed portion to her young women.

  1. Lit., “things carried off.” Heb., teʹreph.

ז [Zaʹyin]

16 She has considered a field and proceeded to obtain it; from the fruitage of her hands she has planted a vineyard.

ח [Chehth]

17 She has girded her hips with strength, and she invigorates her arms.

ט [Tehth]

18 She has sensed that her trading is good; her lamp does not go out at night.

י [Yohdh]

19 Her hands she has thrust out to the distaff, and her own hands take hold of the spindle.

כ [Kaph]

20 Her palm she has stretched out to the afflicted one, and her hands she has thrust out to the poor one.

ל [Laʹmedh]

21 She does not fear for her household because of the snow, for all her household are clothed with double garments.*1

  1. “Double garments,” by a slight change in vowel pointing, to agree with LXX; M, “scarlet garments.”

מ [Mem]

22 Coverlets she has made for herself. Her clothing is of linen and wool dyed reddish purple.

נ [Nun]

23 Her owner is someone known in the gates, when he sits down with the older men*1 of the land.

  1. Or, “elders.”

ס [Saʹmekh]

24 She has made even undergarments and proceeded to sell [them], and belts she has given to the tradesmen.

ע [ʽAʹyin]

25 Strength and splendor are her clothing, and she laughs at a future day.

פ [Peʼ]

26 Her mouth she has opened in wisdom, and the law of loving-kindness*1 is upon her tongue.

  1. Or, “loyal love.”

צ [Tsa·dhehʹ]

27 She is watching over the goings-on of her household, and the bread of laziness*1 she does not eat.

  1. “And the bread of laziness.” Heb., weleʹchem ʽats·luthʹ.

ק [Qohph]

28 Her sons have risen up and proceeded to pronounce her happy; her owner [rises up], and he praises her.

ר [Rehsh]

29 There are many daughters that have shown capableness, but you—you have ascended above them all.

ש [Shin]

30 Charm may be false, and prettiness may be vain; [but] the woman that fears Jehovah is the one that procures praise for herself.

ת [Taw]

31 GIVE her of the fruitage of her hands, and let her works praise her even in the gates.*1

  1. Some ed. of the Heb. text display the trigrammaton, or three letters, Chehth, Zaʹyin, Qohph (ח ז ק) that stand as King Hezekiah’s signature to the copy-work done by his scribes to signify that the work had been completed.