Proverbs 31
1 THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5 Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
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 hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
