Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with 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 [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin 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 for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
15 She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
29 “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
“Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
