Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that 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 unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy 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, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the 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 judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
let him drink, and forget his poverty, 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 dumb, for the cause of all those that 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 afflicted and needy.
10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
Who can find a woman of worth? 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 confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
She doeth 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 seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She putteth 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 stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth 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 maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus 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 sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth 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 own works praise her in the gates.
