Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
The words given to King Lemuel; the prophecy which his mother taught him.
2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
What, O my son! and what, O son of my womb! Yea, what, O son of my vows! [[shall I say to thee?]]
3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
Give not thy strength to women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings!
4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
It is not for kings, O Lemuel! It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;
5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the rights of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, And wine to him that hath a heavy heart;
7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more!
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of every orphan!
9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And maintain the cause of the poor and needy!
10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
Who can find a capable woman? Her worth is far above pearls.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he is in no want of gain.
12 She will render 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 hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
She is like the merchants' ships; She bringeth her food from afar.
15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
She riseth while it is yet night, And giveth food to her family, And a task to her maidens.
16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
She layeth a plan for a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
She perceiveth how pleasant is her gain, And her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
She putteth forth her hands to the distaff, And her hands take hold of the spindle.
20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
She spreadeth out her hand to the poor, Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
She hath no fear for her household on account of the snow, For all her household are clothed with crimson.
22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
She maketh for herself coverlets; Her clothing is of fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
Strength and honor are her clothing; And she laugheth at the days to come.
26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, And kind instruction is upon her tongue.
27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
Her children rise up, and extol her; Her husband, and praiseth her, [[saving, ]]
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
“Many daughters have done, virtuously, But thou excellest them all.”
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Grace is deceitful, and beauty vain; But the woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
Give ye her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
