Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
2 What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
3 Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
4 Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
5 For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
6 Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
7 Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
8 Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
10 Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
11 Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
12 She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
13 She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
14 Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
15 She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
16 She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
17 She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
18 She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
19 She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
20 She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
21 She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
22 She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
25 She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
26 She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
27 She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
28 Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
29 “Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
30 Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
31 Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
