33FOR SQUEEZING OF MILK IT BRINGS FORTH BUTTER AND SQUEEZING OF A NOSE IT BRINGS FORTH BLOOD AND SQUEEZING OF ANGER<S> IT BRINGS FORTH STRIFE 33For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”
1[THE] WORDS OF LEMUEL [THE] KING AN ORACLE WHICH SHE INSTRUCTED HIM MOTHER HIS The Sayings for King Lemuel 1These are the words of King Lemuel— the burden that his mother taught him:
2WHAT? O SON MY AND WHAT? O SON OF WOMB MY AND WHAT? O SON OF VOWS MY 2What shall I say,*NoteCloseOr What or What are you doing O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3MAY NOT YOU GIVE TO <THE> WOMEN STRENGTH YOUR AND WAYS YOUR TO WIPING OUT KINGS 3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4MAY NOT [IT BE] FOR <THE> KINGS O LEMUEL MAY NOT [IT BE] FOR <THE> KINGS TO DRINK WINE AND FOR RULERS WHERE? STRONG DRINK 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5LEST HE SHOULD DRINK AND HE MAY FORGET [WHAT] IS DECREED AND HE MAY CHANGE [THE] CAUSE OF ALL [THE] SONS OF AFFLICTION 5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6GIVE STRONG DRINK TO [ONE WHO] IS PERISHING AND WINE TO [PEOPLE] BITTER OF SOUL 6Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7HE WILL DRINK AND HE MAY FORGET POVERTY HIS AND TROUBLE HIS NOT HE WILL REMEMBER AGAIN 7Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8OPEN MOUTH YOUR FOR [THE] DUMB TO [THE] CAUSE OF ALL [THE] SONS OF PASSING AWAY 8Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9OPEN MOUTH YOUR JUDGE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PLEAD [THE] CAUSE OF [THE] POOR AND [THE] NEEDY 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10A WIFE OF ABILITY WHO? WILL HE FIND AND [IS] FAR MORE THAN JEWELS PRICE HER The Virtues of a Noble Woman 10A wife*NoteCloseVerses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11IT TRUSTS IN HER [THE] HEART OF HUSBAND HER AND GAIN NOT HE LACKS 11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12SHE FEEDS HIM GOOD AND NOT EVIL ALL [THE] DAYS OF LIFE HER 12She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13SHE SEEKS WOOL AND FLAX<ES> AND SHE WORKED IN [THE] DELIGHT OF HANDS HER 13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14SHE IS LIKE [THE] SHIPS OF A TRADER FROM A DISTANCE SHE BRINGS FOOD HER 14She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15AND SHE ROSE WHEN STILL NIGHT AND SHE GAVE FOOD TO HOUSEHOLD HER AND AN ALLOTTED PORTION TO FEMALE SERVANTS HER 15She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16SHE CONSIDERS A FIELD AND SHE TOOK IT FROM [THE] FRUIT OF HANDS HER SHE PLANTS A VINEYARD 16She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17SHE GIRDS WITH STRENGTH LOINS HER AND SHE STRENGTHENED ARMS HER 17She girds herself*NoteCloseHebrew She girds her loins with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18SHE PERCEIVES THAT [IS] GOOD PROFIT HER NOT IT IS EXTINGUISHED IN THE NIGHT LAMP HER 18She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19HANDS HER SHE STRETCHES OUT ON THE DISTAFF AND PALMS HER THEY GRASP [THE] SPINDLE 19She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20PALM HER SHE SPREADS OUT TO <THE> POOR [PERSON] AND HANDS HER SHE STRETCHES OUT TO THE NEEDY [PERSON] 20She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21NOT SHE IS AFRAID FOR HOUSEHOLD HER FROM SNOW FOR ALL HOUSEHOLD HER [IS] CLOTHED SCARLET<S> 21When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.*NoteCloseOr doubly clothed
22COVERINGS SHE MAKES FOR HERSELF [IS] FINE LINEN AND PURPLE CLOTHING HER 22She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23[IS] KNOWN IN THE GATES HUSBAND HER WHEN SITS HE WITH [THE] ELDERS OF [THE] LAND 23Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24LINEN GARMENT[S] SHE MAKES AND SHE SOLD AND A BELT SHE SUPPLIES TO THE MERCHANTS 24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25[IS] STRENGTH AND HONOR CLOTHING HER AND SHE LAUGHED TO A DAY FUTURE 25Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26MOUTH HER SHE OPENS WITH WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION OF LOYALTY [IS] ON TONGUE HER 26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27[SHE IS] WATCHING OVER [THE] WAYS OF HOUSEHOLD HER AND [THE] BREAD OF LAZINESS NOT SHE EATS 27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28THEY RISE UP SONS HER AND THEY CALLED BLESSED HER HUSBAND HER AND HE PRAISED HER 28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29MANY DAUGHTERS THEY HAVE DONE ABILITY AND YOU YOU HAVE GONE UP ABOVE ALL OF THEM 29“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30[IS] DECEPTION <THE> GRACE AND [IS] VANITY <THE> BEAUTY A WOMAN FEARING <OF> YAHWEH SHE SHE WILL BE PRAISED 30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31GIVE TO HER SOME OF [THE] FRUIT OF HANDS HER AND LET THEM PRAISE HER IN THE GATES WORK HER 31Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.