Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:
2 What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21 She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 “Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
