Proverbs 31 - Common English Bible (CEB)

Words of King Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2 No, my son!
No, son of my womb!
No, son of my solemn promises!
3 Don’t give your strength to women,
your ways to those who wipe out kings.
4 It isn’t for kings, Lemuel,
it isn’t for kings to drink wine,
for rulers to crave[a] strong drink.
5 Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law,
and violate the rights of the needy.
6 Give strong drink to those who are perishing
and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and no longer remember their toil.
8 Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[b]
9 Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.

The competent wife

10 A competent wife, how does one find her?
Her value is far above pearls.
11 Her husband entrusts his heart to her,
and with her he will have all he needs.
12 She brings him good and not trouble
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax;
she works joyfully with her hands.
14 She is like a fleet of merchant ships,
bringing food from a distance.
15 She gets up while it is still night,
providing food for her household,
even some for her female servants.
16 She surveys a field and acquires it;
from her own resources, she plants a vineyard.
17 She works energetically;
her arms are powerful.
18 She realizes that her trading is successful;
she doesn’t put out her lamp at night.
19 She puts her hands to the spindle;
her palms grasp the whorl.
20 She reaches out to the needy;
she stretches out her hands to the poor.
21 She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows,
because they are all dressed in warm[c] clothes.
22 She makes bedspreads for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates
when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She makes garments and sells them;
she supplies sashes to traders.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
she is confident about the future.
26 Her mouth is full of wisdom;
kindly teaching is on her tongue.
27 She is vigilant over the activities of her household;
she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.
28 Her children bless her;
her husband praises her:
29 “Many women act competently,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Let her share in the results of her work;
let her deeds praise her in the city gates.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:4 Or where or or
  2. Proverbs 31:8 Or all children who are passing away
  3. Proverbs 31:21 LXX; MT red

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Proverbs 31 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

31 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him: 2 `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? 3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings. 4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of stron...
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Proverbs 31 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

31 The words of Lemuel, the king; the vision by which his mother taught him. 2 What, my darling? what, the darling of my womb? what, the darling of my desires? (What, my darling? what is it, the darling of my womb? what is it, the answer to my prayers?) 3 Give thou not thy chattel to women (Give tho...
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Proverbs 31 - World English Bible (WEB)

31 The words of king Lemuel; the revelation which his mother taught him. 2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Wh...
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Proverbs 31 - The Voice (VOICE)

31 These are the words of King Lemuel. An oracle of wisdom handed down to him by his mother: 2 Mother: What shall I say to you, my son? What wisdom can I impart, child of my womb? What insight can I share, son of my vows?3 Do not waste your strength on women or invest yourself in women who would de...
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Proverbs 31 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

A Mother’s Warning31 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him: 2 O my son, O son of my womb,O son of my vows,3 do not give your vigor to women,or your ways to what ruins kings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,it is not for kings to drink wine,or for rulers to crave strong drink,...
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Proverbs 31 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Teaching of King Lemuel’s Mother31 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa,[a] which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?3 Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink ...
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Proverbs 31 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Teaching of King Lemuel’s Mother31 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa,[a] which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?3 Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink ...
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Proverbs 31 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Teaching of King Lemuel’s Mother31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2 No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, o...
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Proverbs 31 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Teaching of King Lemuel’s Mother31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:(A)2 No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!(B)3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.(C)4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink...
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Proverbs 31 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Sayings of King Lemuel31 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message,[a] which his mother taught him. 2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,3 do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcoho...
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Proverbs 31 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Wisdom of King Lemuel’s Mother31 The words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? What, son who came from within me? What, son of my promises? 3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is ...
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Proverbs 31 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son?And what, son of my womb?And what, (A)son of my vows?3 (B)Do not give your strength to women,Nor your ways (C)to that which destroys kings. 4 (D)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,It is...
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Proverbs 31 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Sayings of King Lemuel31 The sayings of King Lemuel – an inspired utterance his mother taught him. 2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women, your vigour on those who ruin kings. 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel – it is n...
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Proverbs 31 - New International Version (NIV)

Sayings of King Lemuel31 The sayings(A) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him. 2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!(B)3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.(C) 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel— it...
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Proverbs 31 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Sayings of King Lemuel31 These are the sayings of King Lemuel. His mother taught them to him. These sayings came from God. 2 Listen, my son! Listen, my very own son! Listen, you who are the answer to my prayers!3 Don’t waste your strength on women. Don’t waste it on those who destroy kings. 4 Le...
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Proverbs 31 - New Century Version (NCV)

Wise Words of King Lemuel31 These are the words of King Lemuel, the message his mother taught him: 2 “My son, I gave birth to you. You are the son I prayed for.3 Don’t waste your strength on women or your time on those who ruin kings. 4 “Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel, and rulers should not des...
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