Proverbs 31

1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.

Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?

'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.

Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.

Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:

Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.

He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.

Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.

A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.

The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.

She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.

She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.

14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.

She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.

Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.

She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.

She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.

She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.

Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.

Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.

She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.

22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.

Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.

23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.

Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.

Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.

Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.

Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.

27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.

She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.

Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.

'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.

The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.

Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!