Proverbs 31
1The devarim of Lemuel Melech, 1 the massa (burden, oracle) that immo taught him. 1
2What, my bar (son)? + 31:2 See Ps 2:12 And what, the bar of my womb? 1 And what, the bar of my nedarim (vows)? 1
3Give not thy strength unto nashim, 1 nor thy drakhim to that which destroyeth melachim. 1
4It is not for melachim, O Lemuel, 1 it is not for melachim to drink yayin; 1 nor for rulers to crave strong drink; 1
5Lest they drink, and forget the decree, 1 and pervert the justice of the bnei oni (all the oppressed afflicted people). 1
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, 1 and yayin unto those that be of bitter nefesh. 1
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, 1 and remember his amal (misery) no more. 1
8Open thy peh (mouth) for the illem (mute) 1 in the cause of all such as are bnei chalof (sons of destitution). 1
9Open thy peh (mouth), judge tzedek, 1 and plead the cause of the oni and the evyon. 1
10Who can find an aishes chayil (a woman of valor, an excellent wife)? + 31:10 Prov 12:4 1 For her worth is far above rubies. 1
11The lev of her ba'al (husband) doth securely trust in her, 1 so that he shall have no lack of gain. 1
12She will do him tov and not rah 1 all the days of her life. 1
13She seeketh tzemer (wool), and flax, 1 and worketh willingly with her palms. 1
14She is like the oniyyot socher (ship merchant); 1 she bringeth her lechem from afar. 1
15She riseth also while it is yet lailah, 1 and provideth food to her bais, 1 and a chok (portion) to her na'arot (servant girls). 1
16She considereth a sadeh, and buyeth it; 1 with the fruit of her palms she planteth a kerem (vineyard). 1
17She girdeth her loins with strength, 1 and strengtheneth her zero'ot (arms). 1
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is tov; 1 her ner (light) goeth not out balailah. 1
19She layeth her yadayim to the distaff, 1 and her fingers lay hold of the spindle. 1
20She extends her palms to the oni; 1 indeed, she reacheth forth her yadayim to the evyon (needy). 1
21She is not afraid of the sheleg (snow) for her bais; 1 for all her bais are clothed with scarlet. 1
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; 1 her levush (clothing) is fine linen and purple. 1
23Her ba'al (husband) is known in the she'arim, 1 when he sitteth among the ziknei eretz. 1
24She maketh fine garments, and selleth them; 1 and delivereth sashes unto the kena'ani (merchant). 1
25Oz (strength) and hadar (dignity) are her clothing; 1 and her smile is toward the yom acharon (coming day, future). 1
26She openeth her peh (mouth) with chochmah; 1 and on her lashon is the torat chesed (teaching of kindness). 1
27She watcheth well over the halichot (goings, ways) of her bais (household), 1 and eateth not the lechem atzlut (bread of idleness). 1
28Her banim rise up, and call her blessed; 1 her ba'al (husband) also, and he praiseth her. 1
29Rabbot banot have done virtuously, 1 but thou excellest them all. 1
30Chen (charm) is sheker (deceitful), and yofi (beauty) is fleeting; 1 but an isha Yirat Hashem (a G-d fearing wife), she shall be praised. 1
31Give her of the p'ri (fruit) of her yadayim; 1 and let her own ma'asim praise her in the she'arim.