Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out by night.
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
