KJV 1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. NIV 1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him. KJV 2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? NIV 2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers! KJV 3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. NIV 3 Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. KJV 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: NIV 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, KJV 5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. NIV 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. KJV 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. NIV 6 Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! KJV 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. NIV 7 Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. KJV 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. NIV 8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. KJV 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. NIV 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. KJV 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. NIV 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. KJV 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. NIV 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. KJV 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. NIV 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. KJV 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. NIV 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. KJV 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. NIV 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. KJV 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. NIV 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. KJV 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. NIV 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. KJV 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. NIV 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. KJV 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. NIV 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. KJV 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. NIV 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. KJV 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. NIV 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. KJV 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. NIV 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. KJV 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. NIV 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. KJV 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. NIV 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. KJV 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. NIV 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. KJV 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. NIV 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. KJV 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. NIV 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. KJV 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. NIV 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. KJV 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. NIV 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: KJV 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. NIV 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” KJV 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. NIV 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. KJV 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. NIV 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
NIV 1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him. NIV 2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers! NIV 3 Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. NIV 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, NIV 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. NIV 6 Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! NIV 7 Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. NIV 8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. NIV 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. NIV 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. NIV 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. NIV 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. NIV 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. NIV 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. NIV 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. NIV 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. NIV 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. NIV 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. NIV 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. NIV 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. NIV 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. NIV 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. NIV 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. NIV 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. NIV 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. NIV 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. NIV 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. NIV 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: NIV 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” NIV 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. NIV 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.