Proverbs 31

The Words of Lemuel

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

2 What [should I say], my son?
What, son of my womb?
What, son of my vows?
3 Don't spend your energy on women
or your efforts on those who destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine
or for rulers [to desire] beer.
5 Otherwise, they will drink,
forget what is decreed,
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.
6 Give beer to one who is dying
and wine to one whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
and remember his trouble no more.
8 Speak up for those who have no voice,
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

9 Speak up, judge righteously,
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.

In Praise of a Capable Wife

10 Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her female servants.
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.
17 She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Her hands reach out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.
22 She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom
and loving instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household
and is never idle.
28 Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 "Many women are capable,
but you surpass them all!"
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor,
and let her works 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