Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
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 the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that are of heavy hearts.
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
14 She is like the merchant ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth food to her household, and a portion 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 considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her lamp goeth not out by night.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is 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, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth waistbands to the merchant.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she 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 happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall 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 own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
