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 with which his mother instructed him.
2 What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? 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 Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
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 wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
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 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 those who have an embittered soul.
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
8 Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
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 doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
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 provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth 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 hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with 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.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
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 you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
“Many daughters have done virtuously; 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.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed 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.
