Proverbs 31:1-10 in English

¹ The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

² What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

³ 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; Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.

⁶ 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.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.

¹⁰ A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

¹⁰ Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

³ 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; nor for princes strong drink:

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

³ 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; nor for princes strong drink:

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹ My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.

² What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?

³ Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.

⁴ Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

⁵ lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.

⁶ Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:

⁷ that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.

⁸ Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.

⁹ Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

¹⁰ Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.

¹ The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

² What, my son? and what, O son of my womb, and what, O son of my vows?

³ 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; nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any that is afflicted.

⁶ 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.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are left desolate.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister judgment to the poor and needy.

¹⁰ A virtuous woman who can find? for her price is far above rubies.

¹ These are sayings/messages that God gave to King Lemuel's mother, and which his mother taught him:

² You are my son; I gave birth to you RHQ; you are the son that God gave me in answer to my prayers.

³ Do not exhaust your energy having sex EUP with women to whom you are not married, with women who ruin kings by having sex with them.

⁴ Lemuel, kings should not be constantly drinking wine or greatly desire to drink other strong/alcoholic drinks.

⁵ If they do that, they forget the laws that they have made, and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted people.

⁶ Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are ◄greatly distressed/suffering very much►.

⁷ If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles anymore.

⁸ Speak MTY to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.

⁹ Speak MTY ◄on their behalf/to help them► and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy people what should be done for them.

¹⁰ It is very difficult for a man to RHQ find a wife who is good and who is capable of doing many things. Any woman who is like that is worth more than jewels.

¹ My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.

² What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?

³ Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.

⁴ Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

⁵ lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.

⁶ Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:

⁷ that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.

⁸ Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.

⁹ Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

¹⁰ Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.

¹ The words of king Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

⁵ lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

⁵ lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

⁵ lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

¹ The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.

² What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?

³ Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?

⁵ For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:

⁷ Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.

⁸ Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.

⁹ Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.

¹⁰ Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:

² What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?

³ Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is the strong drink?

⁵ — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:

⁷ let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.

¹⁰ Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.

² What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?

³ Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.

⁴ Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:

⁵ And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.

⁶ Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:

⁷ Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.

⁹ Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.

¹⁰ Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.

¹ These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.

² What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.

³ Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.

⁴ Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.

⁵ For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.

⁶ Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.

⁷ Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.

⁸ Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.

⁹ Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.

¹⁰ Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!

¹ THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.

² What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!

³ Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.

⁴ It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,

⁵ Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.

⁶ Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.

⁷ Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.

⁹ Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.

¹⁰ Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.

¹ The words of king Lemuel; the burden wherewith his mother corrected him.

² What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?

³ 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: nor for princes to say: 'Where is strong drink?'

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget that which is decreed, and pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.

⁶ 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.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰ A woman of valour who can find? for her price is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? And what, the son of my vows?

³ 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; Nor for princes strong drink:

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰ (א) Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.

² What hast thou done, O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?

³ Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.

⁴ Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings it is fitting to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:

⁵ Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.

⁷ Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.

¹⁰ Who shall find a virtuous woman? For such a one is more valuable than precious stones.

¹ The words given to King Lemuel; the prophecy which his mother taught him.

² What, O my son! and what, O son of my womb! Yea, what, O son of my vows! shall I say to thee?

³ Give not thy strength to 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, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the rights of any of the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, And wine to him that hath a heavy heart;

⁷ Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more!

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of every orphan!

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And maintain the cause of the poor and needy!

¹⁰ Who can find a capable woman? Her worth is far above pearls.

¹ The words of king Lemuel; the revelation which his mother taught him.

² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

⁵ lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul:

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.

¹ The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.

² What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?

³ Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

⁵ because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.

⁷ He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.

⁸ Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.

⁹ Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.

¹⁰ Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.

¹ The words of king Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

⁵ lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

⁵ lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

³ Give not thy strength to 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; nor for princes strong drink:

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that are of heavy hearts.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

⁵ lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

¹ The words of king Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

⁵ lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

¹ The words of Lemuel, the king; the vision by which his mother taught him.

² What, my darling? what, the darling of my womb? what, the darling of my desires?

³ Give thou not thy chattel or thy substance to women, and thy riches to do away kings.

⁴ A! Lemuel, do not thou give wine to kings; for no privacy there is, where drunkenness reigneth.

⁵ Lest peradventure they drink, and forget dooms, and change the cause of the sons of a poor man.

⁶ Give ye cider to them that mourn, and wine to them that be of bitter soul.

⁷ Drink they, and forget they their neediness; and think they no more on their sorrow.

⁸ Open thy mouth for a dumb man, and open thy mouth for the causes of all sons that pass forth.

⁹ Deem thou that that is just, and deem thou a needy man and a poor man.

¹⁰ Who shall find a strong woman? the price of her is a far, and from the last or utmost ends.

¹ The words of Lemuel, the king; the vision by which his mother taught him.

² What, my darling? what, the darling of my womb? what, the darling of my desires? (What, my darling? what is it, the darling of my womb? what is it, the answer to my prayers?)

³ Give thou not thy chattel to women (or Give thou not all thy substance to women), and thy riches to do away kings.

⁴ A! Lemuel, do not thou give wine to kings; for no private there is, where drunkenness reigneth. (O Lemuel! do not thou give wine to kings; for there is no secret place, where drunkenness can reign.)

⁵ Lest peradventure they drink, and forget dooms, and change the cause of the sons of a poor man. (Lest perhaps they drink, and forget justice, and pervert the cause of the poor.)

⁶ Give ye cider to them that mourn, and wine to them that be of bitter soul.

⁷ Drink they, and forget they their neediness; and think they no more on their sorrow.

⁸ Open thy mouth for a dumb man, and open thy mouth for the causes of all sons that pass forth. (Speak thou for the dumb, and for the causes of all those who pass forth before thee.)

⁹ Deem thou that that is just, and deem thou a needy man and a poor man. (Judge thou with judgement, or with discernment, and give thou justice to the needy and to the poor.)

¹⁰ Who shall find a strong woman? the price of her is far, and from the last ends. (Who shall find a woman of virtue? her value is far above anything else.)

¹ Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

² 'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

³ Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

⁴ Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

⁵ Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

⁶ Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

⁷ He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

¹⁰ A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies is her price.