‏ Proverbs 31

CHAPTER 31

Good Instruction

1  My words have been spoken by God; [²by a king ¹the divine answer], whom [²instructed   ¹his mother]. 2What, O child, will you give heed to? What sayings of God, O first-born, to you I speak, O son? What, O child of my belly? What, O child of my vows? 3You should not give [³to women ¹your ²wealth], nor   your mind and livelihood for an afterthought. [³with ⁴counsel ²all things  ¹Do]! [²with ³counsel ¹Drink wine]! 4The mighty ones are inclined to rage; [³wine ¹let them not ²drink]! 5lest drinking they should forget   wisdom, and [³rightly ⁴to judge ¹in no way ²are able] the weak. 6Give intoxicating drink to the ones in distresses, and wine to drink to the ones in griefs! 7that they should forget their  poverty, and their  miseries should not be remembered any longer. 8O Son, open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly! 9Open your mouth, and judge justly, and litigate for the needy and weak!

The Virtuous Woman

10[⁴wife ³a vigorous ¹Who ²shall find]? [⁴more esteemed than  ¹For ³is ⁶stones ⁵very costly   ²such]. 11[⁴takes courage ⁵over ⁶her ¹The ²heart   ³of her husband].   Such a one [³of good ⁴spoils ¹will not ²be distressed by the lack]. 12For she exacts energy to her husband for good, and not bad for all the livelihood. 13[⁴furling ⁵wool ⁶and ⁷flax ¹She makes ³useful   ²her hands]. 14She became as a ship trading far off. She gathers together her   wealth, 15and she rises up at nights, and appoints foods to the household, and works to the female attendants. 16In viewing a farm, she buys; and from the fruits of her hands she plants a possession. 17Girding up [²strongly   ¹her loin], she establishes   her arms for work. 18She tastes that it is good   to work; and [²is not ³extinguished   ¹her lamp] all the night. 19  [²her cubits ¹She stretches out] unto the things  being advantageous; and the things  of her hands she sticks to the spindle. 20[⁴hands ¹And ³her ²she opens wide] to the needy, and her wrist she stretches out to the poor. 21[²does not ³take thought ⁴of the things  ⁵in ⁶the house   ¹Her husband] whenever [²somewhere ¹he passes time]; for all the ones of hers are being clothed. 22A double goat's hair coat she made   for her husband; and from out of linen and purple material  garments for herself. 23[⁴admired ¹And ³is   ²her husband] at the gate when ever he should sit in the sanhedrin with the aged of the land. 24[²fine linen ¹She makes], and gives back loincloths to the Canaanites. 25[²strength ³and ⁴beauty ¹She puts on], and is glad in [²days ¹the last]. 26[³mouth ¹And ²of her] she opens wisely and lawfully; and her charity is in   her tongue. 27[³are roofed ¹The pastimes ²to her house], and the grain of laziness she does not eat. 28She raises up   her children, and they grow rich; and   her husband praises her. 29Many daughters acquired riches; many acted with ability; but you have precedence -- you are elevated above all. 30[²is false ¹Allurement], and [²vain ¹beauty] it is not in you. [³woman ¹For ²a discerning] is blessed; [⁴the fear ¹and ⁵of the lord  ²let her ³praise]! 31Give to her from the fruits of her lips! and let [²be praised ³at ⁴the gates   ¹her husband]!