Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O 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 unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 “Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
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 hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
