Proverbs 31
1 THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
2 What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
5 Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
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 those who have an embittered soul.
7 Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble 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 fatherless children.
9 Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
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 provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
21 She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth 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 smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
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 virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed 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.
