Sayings of King Lemuel
31 The sayings<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(A)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17286A” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> 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!<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(B)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17287B” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
3 Do not spend your strength<sup data-fn="#fen-NIV-17288a" class="footnote" data-link="[a]” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>[a] on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(C)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17288C” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(D)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17289D” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(E)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17290E” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> and forget what has been decreed,<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(F)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17290F” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(G)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17291G” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(H)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17292H” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 Speak<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(I)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17293I” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> 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.<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(J)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17294J” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 <sup data-fn="#fen-NIV-17295b" class="footnote" data-link="[b]” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>[b]A wife of noble character<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(K)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17295K” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> who can find?<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(L)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17295L” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(M)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17296M” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(N)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17296N” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(O)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17298O” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
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.<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(P)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17305P” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
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<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(Q)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17308Q” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> 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.<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(R)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17311R” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”>
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<sup class="crossreference" data-link="(S)” data-cr=”#cen-NIV-17316S” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px”> at the city gate.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth
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