Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 “Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
