Proverbs 31

Chapter 31

The Sayings of King Lemuel

1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message,t which his mother taught him.
2 O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,3 do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.5 For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.6 Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.7 Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.

A Wife of Noble Character

10 tWho can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warmt clothes.22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

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