Proverbs 31 - New International Version (NIV)

Sayings of King Lemuel

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

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

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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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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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