Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 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?
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 She puts on strength and honor; and rejoices in the last days.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 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.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
