Proverbs 31
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The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
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What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, f son of my womb?
What are you doing, g son of my vows?
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Do h not give your strength to women,
your ways to those i who destroy kings.
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j It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings k to drink wine,
or for rulers to take l strong drink,
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lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and m pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
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Give strong drink to the one who n is perishing,
and wine to o those in bitter distress;
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p let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
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q Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
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Open your mouth, r judge righteously,
s defend the rights of t the poor and needy.
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u An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than v jewels.
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The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
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She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
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She w seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
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She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
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She x rises while it is yet night
and y provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
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She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
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She z dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
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She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
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She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
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She a opens her hand to b the poor
and reaches out her hands to b the needy.
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She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in c scarlet.
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She makes d bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is e fine linen and f purple.
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Her husband is known in g the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
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She makes h linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
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i Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
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She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
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She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
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Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
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"Many j women have done k excellently,
but you surpass them all."
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l Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
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Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
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Cross References
Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 1:27
For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.
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Cross References
Proverbs 5:9
Lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless.
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Cross References
Proverbs 7:26
For many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
Deuteronomy 17:17
And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
1 Kings 11:1
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women.
Nehemiah 13:26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 10:17
Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
1 Kings 16:9
But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah.
1 Kings 20:16
And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him.
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Cross References
Hosea 4:11
Whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.
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Cross References
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
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Cross References
Isaiah 5:22 - 23
Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink.
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Cross References
Job 29:13
The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
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Cross References
Job 3:20
Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul.
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Cross References
Psalms 104:15
And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.
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Cross References
Job 29:12
Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.
Job 29:15 - 16
I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
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Cross References
Leviticus 19:15
You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
Deuteronomy 1:16
And I charged your judges at that time, 'Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 22:16
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
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Cross References
Proverbs 31:20
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Psalms 40:17
As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
Psalms 86:1
Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
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Cross References
Proverbs 12:4
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
Ruth 3:11
And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 19:14
House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
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Cross References
Job 28:18
No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
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Cross References
Proverbs 31:21 - 22
She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
Proverbs 31:24
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
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Cross References
Proverbs 20:13
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
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Cross References
Luke 12:42
And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
Psalms 111:5
He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
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Cross References
Proverbs 31:25
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
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Cross References
Romans 12:13
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Ephesians 4:28
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
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Cross References
Proverbs 31:9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
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Cross References
Proverbs 31:9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
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Cross References
2 Samuel 1:24
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
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Cross References
Proverbs 7:16
I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen.
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Cross References
Genesis 41:42
Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.
Revelation 19:8
It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure" - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Revelation 19:14
And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
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Cross References
Judges 8:26
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels.
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Cross References
Ruth 4:1 - 2
Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, "Turn aside, friend; sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.
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Cross References
Judges 14:12
And Samson said to them, "Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.
Isaiah 3:23
The mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
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Cross References
Proverbs 31:17
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
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Cross References
Song of Solomon 6:9
My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.
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Cross References
Proverbs 31:10
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
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Cross References
Proverbs 11:16
A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.