Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
The words of king Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him.
2 'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
What, my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroys kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to any who is afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
Let him drink, and forget his need, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
Open thy mouth for the mute, in the cause of all such as are left desolate.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the poor and needy.
10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he shall have no lack of gain.
12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands.
14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
She is like the merchant ships: she brings her bread from afar.
15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
She also rises while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and their task to her maidens.
16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
She girds her loins with strength, and makes strong her arms.
18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out by night.
19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
She stretches out her hand to the poor, yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
Her sons rise up, and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praises her.
29 'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excel them all.
30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
