Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 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?
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, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers 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 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.
— 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 near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to 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 After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 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.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
