Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
