Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, 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 considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
