Proverbs 31
The Words of Lemuel
1 The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:
2 What, O my son?
And what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
Description of a Worthy Woman
10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above 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 evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes 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,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in 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 bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 "Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product 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