Proverbs · Bible in Basic English
Proverbs 31 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
BBE Bible in Basic English
RV1909 Reina-Valera 1909
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
1 PALABRAS del rey Lemuel; la profecía con que le enseñó su madre.
1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2 What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
2 ¿Qué, hijo mío? ¿y qué, hijo de mi vientre? ¿y qué, hijo de mis deseos?
2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
3 No des á las mujeres tu fuerza, ni tus caminos á lo que es para destruir los reyes.
3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
4 No es de los reyes, oh Lemuel, no es de los reyes beber vino, ni de los príncipes la cerveza.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5 For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
5 No sea que bebiendo olviden la ley, y perviertan el derecho de todos los hijos afligidos.
5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
6 Dad la cerveza al desfallecido, y el vino á los de amargo ánimo:
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
7 Beban, y olvídense de su necesidad, y de su miseria no más se acuerden.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
8 Abre tu boca por el mudo, en el juicio de todos los hijos de muerte.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
9 Abre tu boca, juzga justicia, y el derecho del pobre y del menesteroso.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
10 Mujer fuerte, ¿quién la hallará? porque su estima sobrepuja largamente á [la de] piedras preciosas.
10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
11 El corazón de su marido está en ella confiado, y no tendrá necesidad de despojo.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
12 Darále ella bien y no mal, todos los días de su vida.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
13 Buscó lana y lino, y con voluntad labró de sus manos.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
14 Fué como navío de mercader: trae su pan de lejos.
14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
15 Levantóse aun de noche, y dió comida á su familia, y ración á sus criadas.
15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16 After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
16 Consideró la heredad, y compróla; y plantó viña del fruto de sus manos.
16 She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
17 Ciñó sus lomos de fortaleza, y esforzó sus brazos.
17 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
18 Gustó que era buena su granjería: su candela no se apagó de noche.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
19 Aplicó sus manos al huso, y sus manos tomaron la rueca.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
20 Alargó su mano al pobre, y extendió sus manos al menesteroso.
20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
21 No tendrá temor de la nieve por su familia, porque toda su familia está vestida de ropas dobles.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
22 Ella se hizo tapices; de lino fino y púrpura es su vestido.
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
23 Conocido es su marido en las puertas, cuando se sienta con los ancianos de la tierra.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
24 Hizo telas, y vendió; y dió cintas al mercader.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
25 Fortaleza y honor son su vestidura; y en el día postrero reirá.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
26 Abrió su boca con sabiduría: y la ley de clemencia está en su lengua.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
27 Considera los caminos de su casa, y no come el pan de balde.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
28 Levantáronse sus hijos, y llamáronla bienaventurada; y su marido también la alabó.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
29 Muchas mujeres hicieron el bien; mas tú las sobrepujaste á todas.
29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30 Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
30 Engañosa es la gracia, y vana la hermosura: la mujer que teme á Jehová, ésa será alabada.
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
31 Dadle el fruto de sus manos, y alábenla en las puertas sus hechos.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Lemuel
A king whose words, taught him by his mother, are recorded in Proverbs 31.
Cited in the guide: Proverbs 31:1
Cross references (30)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Proverbs 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:5; Proverbs 1:8; 2 Timothy 3:15; Proverbs 30:1
- 2 Isaiah 49:15; 1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 1:28
- 3 Deuteronomy 17:17; Nehemiah 13:26; Proverbs 7:26–27; Proverbs 5:9–11; 1 Kings 11:1
- 4 Proverbs 20:1; Ecclesiastes 10:17; Isaiah 5:22; Hosea 4:11–12; Habakkuk 2:5
- 5 Habakkuk 2:5
- 6 1 Timothy 5:23; Psalm 104:15; 1 Samuel 1:10; Job 3:20; 2 Kings 4:27
- 7 Ephesians 5:18
- 8 Psalm 82:3–4; Proverbs 24:11–12; Jeremiah 38:7–10; Jeremiah 26:24; Esther 4:13–16
- 9 Isaiah 1:17; Amos 5:11–12; Leviticus 19:15; Job 29:15–16; Deuteronomy 1:16
- 10 Proverbs 19:14; Proverbs 12:4; Ephesians 5:25–33; Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 3:15
- 11 1 Peter 3:1–7
- 13 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 2:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:10–12; Acts 9:39–40; Ruth 2:23
- 14 Ezekiel 27:3–36; 1 Kings 9:26–28
- 15 Romans 12:11; Mark 1:35; Luke 12:42; Proverbs 20:13; Ecclesiastes 9:10
- 16 Matthew 13:44; Song of Songs 8:12; Joshua 15:18
- 17 Job 38:3; 1 Peter 1:13; Ephesians 6:10; Luke 12:35; Ephesians 6:14
- 18 1 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 25:3–10; Genesis 31:40; Psalm 127:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
- 19 Exodus 35:25–26
- 20 Ephesians 4:28; Hebrews 13:16; Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 22:9; Romans 12:13
- 21 Genesis 45:22; Proverbs 25:20; 2 Samuel 1:24
- 22 Revelation 19:8; Proverbs 7:16; Genesis 41:42; Ezekiel 16:10–13; Esther 8:15
- 23 Proverbs 12:4; Ruth 4:1; Deuteronomy 16:18; Ruth 4:11; Job 29:7
- 24 Luke 16:19; Ezekiel 27:16; 1 Kings 10:28; Proverbs 31:19; Judges 14:12
- 25 Job 40:10; Romans 13:14; 1 Timothy 2:10; Ephesians 4:24; Job 29:14
- 26 Ephesians 4:29; Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 10:31; Proverbs 12:18; Colossians 4:5
- 27 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Proverbs 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:11
- 28 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 1 Kings 2:19; Proverbs 31:1; Psalm 116:16
- 29 Song of Songs 6:8–9; Ephesians 5:27
- 30 Proverbs 1:7; 1 Peter 3:4–5; Proverbs 11:22; Proverbs 8:13; 1 Peter 1:24
- 31 Psalm 128:2; Hebrews 6:10; Revelation 14:13; Matthew 7:16; Romans 16:1–4
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
And mercy is in His tongue, therefore mercifully teacheth He the law, as it is said regarding wisdom, "The law and mercy doth she carry in her tongue." Do not fear that thou art not able to fulfill the law, flee to mercy.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)