Proverbs 31
1 THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
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 them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread 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 hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, 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 works praise her in the gates.
