Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
The words given to King Lemuel; the prophecy 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, O my son! and what, O son of my womb! Yea, what, O son of my vows! [[shall I say to thee?]]
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
Give not thy strength to women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth 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 to desire strong drink;
5 because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the rights of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, And wine to him that hath a heavy heart;
7 He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more!
8 Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of every orphan!
9 Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And maintain the cause of the poor and needy!
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
Who can find a capable woman? Her worth is far above pearls.
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 is in no want of gain.
12 She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
She doeth 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 seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
She is like the merchants' ships; She bringeth her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
She riseth while it is yet night, And giveth food to her family, And a task to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She layeth a plan for a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
18 She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
She perceiveth how pleasant is her gain, And her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
She putteth forth her hands to the distaff, And her hands take hold of the spindle.
20 She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
She spreadeth out her hand to the poor, Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She hath no fear for her household on account of the snow, For all her household are clothed with crimson.
22 She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
She maketh for herself coverlets; Her clothing is of fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
Her husband is known 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 linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles to the merchant.
25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
Strength and honor are her clothing; And she laugheth at the days to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, And kind instruction is upon her tongue.
27 She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
Her children rise up, and extol her; Her husband, and praiseth her, [[saving, ]]
29 “Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
“Many daughters have done, virtuously, But thou excellest them all.”
30 Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
Grace is deceitful, and beauty vain; But the woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
Give ye her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
