Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
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 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
