Proverbs 31

The Words of King Lemuel

1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2  What are you doing, my son?t What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?
3  Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
4  It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to take strong drink,
5  lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6  Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;t
7  let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8  Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.t
9  Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 t An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11  The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12  She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13  She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14  She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15  She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16  She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17  She dresses herselft with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19  She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20  She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21  She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.t
22  She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23  Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24  She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25  Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26  She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27  She looks well to the ways 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 praises her:
29  "Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
30  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31  Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31

The Words of Lemuel

1 The words of King Lemuel,s
an oraclet that his mother taught him:

2 Ot my son, O son of my womb,
O sont of my vows,

3 Do not give your strengths to women,
nor your wayss to that which ruinst kings.

4 It is not for kings,t O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,s
or for rulers to crave strong drink,tt

5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
and removet from all the poort their legal rights.s

6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,s
and wine to those who are bitterly distressed;t

7 let themt drink and forgett their poverty,
and remember their misery no more.

8 Open your mouths on behalf of those unable to speak,s
for the legal rights of all the dying.t

9 Open your mouth, judge in righteousness,t
and plead the causes of the poor and needy.

The Wife of Noble Character

10 Who can finds a wifet of noble character?t
For her values is far more than rubies.

11 The heart of her husband has confidencet in her,
and he has no lack of gain.s

12 She brings himt good and not evils
all the days of her life.

13 She obtainst wool and flax,
and she is pleased to work with her hands.t

14 She is liket the merchant ships;s
she brings her food from afar.

15 She also gets upt while it is still night,
and provides foods for her household and a portions to her female servants.

16 She considersts a field and buys it;
from her own incomet she plants a vineyard.

17 She beginstt her work vigorously,
and she strengthenss her arms.

18 She knowsts that her merchandise is good,
and her lamps does not go out in the night.

19 Her handsts take holdt of the distaff,
and her hands grasp the spindle.

20 She extendss her handt to the poor,
and reaches out her hand to the needy.

21 She is nott afraid of the snows for her household,
for all of her household are clothed with scarlet.t

22 She makes for herself coverlets;t
her clothing is fine linen and purple.s

23 Her husband is well-knownt in the city gatets
when he sits with the elderst of the land.

24 She makes linen garmentsts and sells them,
and supplies the merchantst with sashes.

25 She is clotheds with strengtht and honor,s
and she can laughs at the timet to come.

26 She opens her mouthts with wisdom,
and loving instructiont is on her tongue.

27 She watches overt the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.s

28 Her children rise upts and call her blessed,
her husbandt also praises her:

29 “Manyt daughterst have done valiantly,t
but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceitfult and beauty is fleeting,s
but a woman who fears the Lords will be praised.

31 Givet her credit for what she has accomplished,t
and let her works praise hers in the city gates.t