Proverbs, 31

¹ The words of Lemʹu·el^*1 the king, the weighty message that his mother gave to him in correction:

² What [am I saying], O son of mine,^*1 and what, O son of my belly, and what, O son of my vows?

³ Do not give your vital energy to women, nor your ways to [what leads to] wiping out kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemʹu·el, it is not for kings to drink wine or for high officials [to say:] “Where is intoxicating liquor?”

⁵ that one may not drink and forget what is decreed and pervert the cause of any of the sons of affliction.

⁶ Give intoxicating liquor, YOU people, to the one about to perish and wine to those who are bitter of soul.

⁷ Let one drink and forget one’s poverty, and let one remember one’s own trouble no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the speechless one, in the cause of all those passing away.^*1

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously and plead the cause of the afflicted one and the poor one.

א [ʼAʹleph]

¹⁰ A capable wife who can find? Her value is far more than that of corals.

ב [Behth]

¹¹ In her the heart of her owner^*1 has put trust, and there is no gain lacking.

ג [Giʹmel]

¹² She has rewarded him with good, and not bad, all the days of her life.

ד [Daʹleth]

¹³ She has sought wool and linen, and she works at whatever is the delight of her hands.

ה [Heʼ]

¹⁴ She has proved to be like the ships of a merchant. From far away she brings in her food.^*1

ו [Waw]

¹⁵ She also gets up while it is still night, and gives food^*1 to her household and the prescribed portion to her young women.

ז [Zaʹyin]

¹⁶ She has considered a field and proceeded to obtain it; from the fruitage of her hands she has planted a vineyard.

ח [Chehth]

¹⁷ She has girded her hips with strength, and she invigorates her arms.

ט [Tehth]

¹⁸ She has sensed that her trading is good; her lamp does not go out at night.

י [Yohdh]

¹⁹ Her hands she has thrust out to the distaff, and her own hands take hold of the spindle.

כ [Kaph]

²⁰ Her palm she has stretched out to the afflicted one, and her hands she has thrust out to the poor one.

ל [Laʹmedh]

²¹ She does not fear for her household because of the snow, for all her household are clothed with double garments.^*1

מ [Mem]

²² Coverlets she has made for herself. Her clothing is of linen and wool dyed reddish purple.

נ [Nun]

²³ Her owner is someone known in the gates, when he sits down with the older men^*1 of the land.

ס [Saʹmekh]

²⁴ She has made even undergarments and proceeded to sell [them], and belts she has given to the tradesmen.

ע [ʽAʹyin]

²⁵ Strength and splendor are her clothing, and she laughs at a future day.

פ [Peʼ]

²⁶ Her mouth she has opened in wisdom, and the law of loving-kindness^*1 is upon her tongue.

צ [Tsa·dhehʹ]

²⁷ She is watching over the goings-on of her household, and the bread of laziness^*1 she does not eat.

ק [Qohph]

²⁸ Her sons have risen up and proceeded to pronounce her happy; her owner [rises up], and he praises her.

ר [Rehsh]

²⁹ There are many daughters that have shown capableness, but you—you have ascended above them all.

ש [Shin]

³⁰ Charm may be false, and prettiness may be vain; [but] the woman that fears Jehovah is the one that procures praise for herself.

ת [Taw]

³¹ GIVE her of the fruitage of her hands, and let her works praise her even in the gates.^*1