Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb, and what, O son of my vows?
'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes [to say], Where is strong drink?
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 the law, and pervert the judgment of any that is afflicted.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter in soul:
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are left desolate.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister judgment to the poor and needy.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 A virtuous woman who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no lack of gain.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 She is like the merchant-ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and their task to her maidens.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: her lamp goeth not out by night.
She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 She spreadeth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; and she laugheth at the time to come.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her, [saying]:
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: [but] a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
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 hands; and let her works praise her in the gates.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
