Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy 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?’
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, 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 hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
