Proverbs 31

1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:

The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:

2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?

“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow 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?

Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.

5 — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.

And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:

Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.

7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.

Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.

Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.

10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.

Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.

11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.

The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.

12 She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;

She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.

15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.

And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.

16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.

She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.

18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.

She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.

19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.

22 She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.

She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.

24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.

Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.

She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.

27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:

Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.

29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.

Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.

30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.

Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.