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