Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who 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,
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember 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 the children of the departed.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 She brings 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 selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in 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 yet it is night, and giveth food 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 considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of 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 putteth vigour into her arms:
18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
Known in the gates, is 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 linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction 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 goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, 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.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall 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 own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
