Proverbs 31 מִשְׁלֵי פרק ל״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 31 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   דִּבְרֵיdiv/REthe words ofלְמוּאֵלLe/mu/ELLemuelמֶלֶךְME/lekha kingמַשָּׂאmas/SAthe oracleאֲשֶׁר־יִסְּרַתּוּa/SHER-yis/se/RAT/tuwith which taught himאִמּוֹ׃im/MOhis mother

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

2. 2

   מַה־בְּרִיma-be/RIwhat my sonוּמַה־בַּר־בִּטְנִיu/MA-bar-bit/NIand what son of my wombוּמֶהu/MEand whatבַּר־נְדָרָי׃bar-ne/da/RAYson of my vows

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

3. 3

   אַל־תִּתֵּןal-tit/TENdo not giveלַנָּשִׁיםlan/na/SHIMto womenחֵילֶךָche/LE/khayour strengthוּדְרָכֶיךָu/de/ra/KHE/khaand your waysלַמְחוֹתlam/CHOTto those who destroyמְלָכִין׃me/la/KHINkings

   Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4. 4

   אַלalnotלַמְלָכִיםlam/la/KHIMfor kingsלְמוֹאֵלle/Mo/ELO Lemuelאַלalnotלַמְלָכִיםlam/la/KHIMfor kingsשְׁתוֹ־יָיִןshe/TO-YA/yinto drink wineוּלְרוֹזְנִיםu/le/roz/NIMnor for rulers(או)v[אֵי]ewhere isשֵׁכָר׃she/KHARstrong drink

   It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5. 5

   פֶּן־יִשְׁתֶּהpen-yish/TElest he drinkוְיִשְׁכַּחve/yish/KACHand forgetמְחֻקָּקme/chuk/KAKwhat is decreedוִישַׁנֶּהvi/shan/NEand pervertדִּיןdinthe rights ofכׇּל־בְּנֵי־עֹנִי׃kol-be/NE-O/niall the afflicted

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

6. 6

   תְּנוּ־שֵׁכָרte/NU-she/KHARgive strong drinkלְאוֹבֵדle/o/VEDto one who is perishingוְיַיִןve/YA/yinand wineלְמָרֵיle/MA/reto the bitter ofנָפֶשׁ׃NA/feshsoul

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

7. 7

   יִשְׁתֶּהyish/TElet him drinkוְיִשְׁכַּחve/yish/KACHand forgetרִישׁוֹri/SHOhis povertyוַעֲמָלוֹva/a/ma/LOand his troubleלֹאlonotיִזְכׇּר־עוֹד׃yiz/KOR-odremember any more

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

8. 8

   פְּתַח־פִּיךָpe/TACH-PI/khaopen your mouthלְאִלֵּםle/il/LEMfor the muteאֶל־דִּיןel-dinfor the rights ofכׇּל־בְּנֵיkol-be/NEall the sons ofחֲלוֹף׃cha/LOFpassing away

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

9. 9

   פְּתַח־פִּיךָpe/TACH-PI/khaopen your mouthשְׁפׇט־צֶדֶקshe/FOT-TSE/dekjudge righteouslyוְדִיןve/DINand defend the rights ofעָנִיa/NIthe afflictedוְאֶבְיוֹן׃ve/ev/YONand the needy

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

10. 10

    אֵשֶׁת־חַיִלE/shet-CHA/yila woman of valorמִיmiwhoיִמְצָאyim/TSAcan findוְרָחֹקve/ra/CHOKfor farמִפְּנִינִיםmip/pe/ni/NIMbeyond rubiesמִכְרָהּ׃mikh/RAis her worth

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

11. 11

    בָּטַחBA/tachtrustsבָּהּbain herלֵבlevthe heart ofבַּעְלָהּba/LAher husbandוְשָׁלָלve/sha/LALand gainלֹאlonoיֶחְסָר׃yech/SARwill he lack

    The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12. 12

    גְּמָלַתְהוּge/ma/LAT/hushe does himטוֹבtovgoodוְלֹא־רָעve/LO-raand not evilכֹּלkolallיְמֵיye/MEthe days ofחַיֶּיהָ׃chay/ye/HAher life

    She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13. 13

    דָּרְשָׁהda/re/SHAshe seeksצֶמֶרTSE/merwoolוּפִשְׁתִּיםu/fish/TIMand linenוַתַּעַשׂvat/TA/asand worksבְּחֵפֶץbe/CHE/fetswith the delight ofכַּפֶּיהָ׃kap/PE/haher hands

    She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14. 14

    הָיְתָהha/ye/TAshe isכׇּאֳנִיּוֹתko/o/niy/YOTlike the ships ofסוֹחֵרso/CHERa merchantמִמֶּרְחָקmim/mer/CHAKfrom afarתָּבִיאta/VIshe bringsלַחְמָהּ׃lach/MAher bread

    She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15. 15

    וַתָּקׇםvat/TA/komshe risesבְּעוֹדbe/ODwhile it is stillלַיְלָהLAY/lanightוַתִּתֵּןvat/tit/TENand givesטֶרֶףTE/reffoodלְבֵיתָהּle/ve/TAto her householdוְחֹקve/CHOKand a portionלְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ׃le/na/a/ro/TE/hato her maidens

    She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16. 16

    זָמְמָהza/me/MAshe considersשָׂדֶהsa/DEa fieldוַתִּקָּחֵהוּvat/tik/ka/CHE/huand buys itמִפְּרִיmip/pe/RIwith the fruit ofכַפֶּיהָkhap/PE/haher hands(נטע)nat[נָטְעָה]NAT/ashe plantsכָּרֶם׃KA/rema vineyard

    She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17. 17

    חָגְרָהcha/ge/RAshe girdsבְעוֹזve/OZwith strengthמׇתְנֶיהָmot/NE/haher loinsוַתְּאַמֵּץvat/te/am/METSand strengthensזְרוֹעֹתֶיהָ׃ze/ro/o/te/HAher arms

    She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18. 18

    טָעֲמָהta/a/MAshe perceivesכִּי־טוֹבki-tovthat is goodסַחְרָהּsach/RAher merchandiseלֹא־יִכְבֶּהlo-yikh/BEdoes not go out(בליל)valayal[בַלַּיְלָה]val/LAY/laby nightנֵרָהּ׃ne/RAher lamp

    She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19. 19

    יָדֶיהָya/DE/haher handsשִׁלְּחָהshil/le/CHAshe putsבַכִּישׁוֹרvak/ki/SHORon the distaffוְכַפֶּיהָve/khap/PE/haand her palmsתָּמְכוּTAM/khuholdפָלֶךְ׃FA/lekhthe spindle

    She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20. 20

    כַּפָּהּkap/PAher palmפָּרְשָׂהpa/re/SAshe opensלֶעָנִיle/a/NIto the afflictedוְיָדֶיהָve/ya/DE/haand her handsשִׁלְּחָהshil/le/CHAshe reaches outלָאֶבְיוֹן׃la/ev/YONto the needy

    She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21. 21

    לֹא־תִירָאlo-ti/RAshe is not afraidלְבֵיתָהּle/ve/TAfor her householdמִשָּׁלֶגmish/SHA/legof snowכִּיkiforכׇל־בֵּיתָהּkhol-be/TAall her householdלָבֻשׁla/VUSHare clothed inשָׁנִים׃sha/NIMscarlet

    She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22. 22

    מַרְבַדִּיםmar/vad/DIMcoveringsעָשְׂתָה־לָּהּa/se/TA-lashe makes for herselfשֵׁשׁsheshfine linenוְאַרְגָּמָןve/ar/ga/MANand purpleלְבוּשָׁהּ׃le/vu/SHAher clothing

    She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23. 23

    נוֹדָעno/DAis knownבַּשְּׁעָרִיםbash/she/a/RIMat the gatesבַּעְלָהּba/LAher husbandבְּשִׁבְתּוֹbe/shiv/TOwhen he sitsעִם־זִקְנֵי־אָרֶץ׃im-zik/NE-A/retswith the elders of the land

    Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24. 24

    סָדִיןsa/DINlinen garmentsעָשְׂתָהa/se/TAshe makesוַתִּמְכֹּרvat/tim/KORand sells themוַחֲגוֹרva/cha/GORand beltsנָתְנָהna/te/NAshe deliversלַכְּנַעֲנִי׃lak/ke/na/a/NIto the merchant

    She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25. 25

    עֹז־וְהָדָרoz-ve/ha/DARstrength and dignityלְבוּשָׁהּle/vu/SHAher clothingוַתִּשְׂחַקvat/tis/CHAKand she laughsלְיוֹםle/YOMat the dayאַחֲרוֹן׃a/cha/RONto come

    Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26. 26

    פִּיהָPI/haher mouthפָּתְחָהpa/te/CHAshe opensבְחׇכְמָהve/chokh/MAin wisdomוְתוֹרַתve/to/RATand the teaching ofחֶסֶדCHE/sedkindnessעַל־לְשׁוֹנָהּ׃al-le/sho/NAis on her tongue

    She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27. 27

    צוֹפִיָּהtso/fiy/YAshe watches over[הֲלִיכוֹת]ha/li/KHOTthe ways ofבֵּיתָהּbe/TAher houseוְלֶחֶםve/LE/chemand the bread ofעַצְלוּתats/LUTidlenessלֹאlonotתֹאכֵל׃to/KHELshe eats

    She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28. 28

    קָמוּKA/murise upבָנֶיהָva/NE/haher sonsוַיְאַשְּׁרוּהָvay/ash/she/RU/haand call her blessedבַּעְלָהּba/LAher husbandוַיְהַלְלָהּ׃vay/HAL/laand he praises her

    Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29. 29

    רַבּוֹתrab/BOTmanyבָּנוֹתba/NOTdaughtersעָשׂוּa/SUhave doneחָיִלCHA/yilvaliantlyוְאַתְּve/ATTand youעָלִיתa/LITsurpassעַל־כֻּלָּנָה׃al-kul/LA/nathem all

    Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30. 30

    שֶׁקֶרSHE/kerdeceitfulהַחֵןha/CHENis charmוְהֶבֶלve/HE/veland vainהַיֹּפִיhay/YO/fiis beautyאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanיִרְאַת־יְהֹוָהyir/AT-Adonaiwho fears the LORDהִיאhisheתִתְהַלָּל׃tit/hal/LALwill be praised

    Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31. 31

    תְּנוּ־לָהּte/NU-lagive herמִפְּרִיmip/pe/RIof the fruit ofיָדֶיהָya/DE/haher handsוִיהַלְלוּהָvi/hal/LU/haand let praise herבַשְּׁעָרִיםvash/she/a/RIMin the gatesמַעֲשֶׂיהָ׃ma/a/SE/haher works

    Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.