Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
2 What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
4 Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
5 For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
6 Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
7 Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
8 Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
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 while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
21 She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
28 Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
29 “Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
“Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
31 Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
