Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy 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 drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
5 because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights 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 to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
7 He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
8 Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
9 Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
12 She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
15 She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
16 She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
18 She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
19 She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
20 She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, 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 She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
26 She opens 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 watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
29 “Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
30 Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
