Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
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 wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
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, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth 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 feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is 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, when he sitteth, with the 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.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest 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.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
