Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
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?
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
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.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
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.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
