Proverbs 31
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| Verse | BSB | KJV | WEB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: | The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. | The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him: | The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him. |
| 2 | What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows? | What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? | “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows! | What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows? |
| 3 | Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. | Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. | Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. | Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. |
| 4 | It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, | It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: | It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’ | It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink? |
| 5 | lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice. | Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. | lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted. | Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted. |
| 6 | Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul. | Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. | Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul. | Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul: |
| 7 | Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. | Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. | Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. | Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. |
| 8 | Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. | Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. | Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. | Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. |
| 9 | Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy. | Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. | Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.” | Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy. |
| 10 | A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. | Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. | Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies. | A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies. |
| 11 | The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. | The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. | The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. | The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. |
| 12 | She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life. | She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. | She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. | She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life. |
| 13 | She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. | She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. | She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands. | She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. |
| 14 | She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. | She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. | She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar. | She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar. |
| 15 | She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants. | She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. | She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls. | She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens. |
| 16 | She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. | She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. | She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. | She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. |
| 17 | She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong. | She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. | She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong. | She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms. |
| 18 | She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night. | She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. | She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night. | She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable; Her lamp goeth not out by night. |
| 19 | She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. | She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. | She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. | She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle. |
| 20 | She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. | She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. | She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy. | She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. |
| 21 | When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet. | She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. | She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. | She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. |
| 22 | She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple. | She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. | She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple. | She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. |
| 23 | Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land. | Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. | Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. | Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. |
| 24 | She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants. | She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. | She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant. | She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. |
| 25 | Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come. | Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. | Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come. | Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come. |
| 26 | She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. | She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. | She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue. | She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue. |
| 27 | She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. | She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. | She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness. | She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness. |
| 28 | Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well: | Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. | Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: | Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying: |
| 29 | “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!” | Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. | “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.” | Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all. |
| 30 | Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. | Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. | Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. | Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised. |
| 31 | Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates. | Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. | Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates! | Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates. |