Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
