Proverbs 31

1 The sayings of King Lemuel, a prophetic revelation,used by his mother to discipline him.

Advice to a Prince

2 “What, my son?What, son to whom I gave birth?What, son of my prayers?3 Don’t give your strength to womenor your power to those who ruin kings.4 “It is not for kings, Lemuel.It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor.5 Otherwise, they drink and forget what they have decreedand change the standard of justice for all oppressed people.6 Give liquor to a person who is dyingand wine to one who feels resentful.7 Such a person drinksand forgets his povertyand does not remember his trouble anymore.8 “Speak out for the one who cannot speak,for the rights of those who are doomed.9 Speak out,judge fairly,and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people.”

A Poem in Hebrew Alphabetical Order

10 “Who can find a wife with a strong character?She is worth far more than jewels.11 Her husband trusts her with all his heart,and he does not lack anything good.12 She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life.13 “She seeks out wool and linen with careand works with willing hands.14 She is like merchant ships.She brings her food from far away.15 She wakes up while it is still darkand gives food to her familyand portions of food to her female slaves.16 “She picks out a field and buys it.She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned.17 She puts on strength like a beltand goes to work with energy.18 She sees that she is making a good profit.Her lamp burns late at night.19 “She puts her hands on the distaff,and her fingers hold a spindle.20 She opens her hands to oppressed peopleand stretches them out to needy people.21 She does not fear for her family when it snowsbecause her whole familyhas a double layer of clothing.22 She makes quilts for herself.Her clothes are made of linen and purple cloth.23 “Her husband is known at the city gateswhen he sits with the leaders of the land.24 “She makes linen garments and sells themand delivers belts to the merchants.25 She dresses with strength and nobility,and she smiles at the future.26 “She speaks with wisdom,and on her tongue there is tender instruction.27 She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family,and she does not eat the bread of idleness.28 Her children and her husbandstand up and bless her.In addition, he sings her praises, by saying,29 ‘Many women have done noble work,but you have surpassed them all!’30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates,but a woman who has the fear of the Lord should be praised.31 Reward her for what she has done,and let her achievements praise her at the city 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