Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy 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, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
Give not your strength unto women, nor your ways to that which destroys 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 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 the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
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 the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above 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 does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands.
14 She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from far.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night.
19 She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reachs forth her hands to the needy.
21 She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, when 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 fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time 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 in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
29 “Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.
30 False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
