Proverbs 31
1 THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
2 What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
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?
3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
5 Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
6 Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
7 Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
8 Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
9 Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
10 Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
12 She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
14 She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
15 And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
18 She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
19 She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
21 She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
22 She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
24 She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
25 Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
27 She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
29 Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
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.
31 Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
