Proverbs 31
The Words of King Lemuels Mother
1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:2 What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?3 Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;5 Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.8 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtuous Wife
10 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.13 She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.14 She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.16 She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.17 She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.22 She makes tapestry 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 sashes for the merchants.25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.27 She watches over 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 daughters have done well, But you excel them all.30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own 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