Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which 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 sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to 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, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
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 he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
6 Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
7 Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie 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 domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
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: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
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, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
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 getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle 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 poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
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 knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with 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 sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest 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.
Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
