Proverbs

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

1These are the words of King Lemuel. This is the message his mother taught him.

2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

2What shall I tell you, my son? You are the son I gave birth to. You are the son I promised to God.

3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

3Do not spend your strength on women. Do not waste your life on the things that ruin kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

4Lemuel, kings should not drink wine. Rulers should not crave strong drink.

5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

5If they drink, they will forget the law. Then they will treat suffering people unfairly.

6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

6Give strong drink to someone who is dying. Give wine to someone whose heart is heavy.

7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

7Let him drink and forget how poor he is. Let him stop thinking about his pain.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

8Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Defend everyone who is about to be destroyed.

NoteThe KJV says "the dumb." In 1611 that meant people who could not speak, not people who were unintelligent.

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

9Speak up. Judge fairly. Stand up for people who are poor and in need.

10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

10Who can find a wife of strong character? She is worth far more than jewels.

11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

11Her husband trusts her completely. Because of her, he lacks nothing worth having.

NoteThe KJV says the husband "shall have no need of spoil." "Spoil" meant goods taken in war. The line means he does not need to go looking elsewhere for anything of value.

12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

12She does good things for him, never harm, as long as she lives.

13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

13She picks out wool and flax, and she works with eager hands.

14She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

14She is like the ships that traders sail. She brings her food from far away.

15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

15She gets up while it is still dark. She gives food to her family and work to her servant girls.

16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

16She looks over a field and buys it. With what she has earned, she plants a vineyard.

17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

17She gets herself ready for hard work. Her arms are strong.

18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

18She can see that her trading is going well. Her lamp still burns late into the night.

19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

19She reaches for the spindle. Her hands hold the distaff to spin thread.

20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

20She opens her hand to poor people. She reaches out to help people in need.

21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

21When snow comes, she is not worried about her family. They all have warm red clothes.

22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

22She makes bed coverings for her home. Her own clothes are fine linen dyed purple.

23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

23Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he sits with the leaders of the land.

NoteThe city gate was the open space where town leaders met to judge cases and settle arguments. Being known there meant being a respected leader.

24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

24She makes linen clothes and sells them. She supplies belts to the traders.

25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

25Strength and honor are what she wears. She can laugh about the days ahead.

26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

26When she speaks, she speaks wisely. Her words teach people to be kind.

27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

27She watches over everything in her house. She is never lazy.

28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

28Her children stand up and say she is a blessing. Her husband praises her too.

29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

29He says, "Many women have done great things, but you are better than all of them."

30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

30Charm can fool you, and beauty does not last. But a woman who respects the LORD should be praised.

NoteThe KJV says "favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain." "Favour" here means charm, and "vain" means it does not last.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

31Give her the reward her work has earned. Let what she has done be praised in public.