Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that 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?
Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
5 — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
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 riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
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, also, and he praiseth her:
29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
“Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
