Proverbs, 31
1 The words of King Lemʹu·el, the weighty message his mother gave to instruct him:
2 What should I tell you, O my son, What, O son of my womb, And what, O son of my vows?
3 Do not give your vigor to women, Nor follow ways that destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemʹu·el, It is not for kings to drink wine Nor for rulers to say, “Where is my drink?”
5 So that they do not drink and forget what is decreed And pervert the rights of the lowly ones.
6 Give alcohol to those who are perishing And wine to those in bitter distress.*1
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7 Let them drink and forget their poverty; Let them remember their trouble no more.
8 Speak up in behalf of the speechless; Defend the rights of all who are perishing.
9 Speak up and judge righteously; Defend the rights*1 of the lowly and the poor.
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א [Aleph]
10 Who can find a capable*1 wife? Her value is far more than that of corals.*2
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ב [Beth]
11 Her husband trusts her from his heart, And he lacks nothing of value.
ג [Gimel]
12 She rewards him with good, not bad, All the days of her life.
ד [Daleth]
13 She obtains wool and linen; She delights to work with her hands.
ה [He]
14 She is like the ships of a merchant, Bringing her food in from afar.
ו [Waw]
15 She also rises while it is still night, Providing food for her household And portions for her female servants.
ז [Zayin]
16 She sets her mind on a field and buys it; She plants a vineyard from her own labors.*1
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ח [Heth]
17 She prepares herself for hard work,*1 And she strengthens her arms.
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ט [Teth]
18 She sees that her trading is profitable; Her lamp does not go out at night.
י [Yod]
19 Her hands seize the distaff, And her hands take hold of the spindle.*1
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כ [Kaph]
20 She extends her palm to the lowly one, And she opens her hands to the poor.
ל [Lamed]
21 She does not worry about her household because of the snow, For her whole household is clothed in warm*1 garments.
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מ [Mem]
22 She makes her own bed covers. Her clothing is of linen and purple wool.
נ [Nun]
23 Her husband is well-known in the city gates, Where he sits among the elders of the land.
ס [Samekh]
24 She makes and sells linen garments*1 And supplies belts to the merchants.
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ע [Ayin]
25 She is clothed with strength and splendor, And she looks to the future with confidence.*1
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פ [Pe]
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom; The law of kindness*1 is on her tongue.
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צ [Tsade]
27 She watches over the activity of her household, And the bread of laziness she does not eat.
ק [Qoph]
28 Her children rise up and declare her happy; Her husband rises up and praises her.
ר [Resh]
29 There are many capable*1 women, But you—you surpass them all.
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ש [Shin]
30 Charm may be false, and beauty may be fleeting,*1 But the woman who fears Jehovah will be praised.
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ת [Taw]
31 Give her the reward for what she does,*1 And let her works praise her in the city gates.
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