Proverbs 31

1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

15 She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

16 She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.

18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed; 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 linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.

25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:

29 “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.

1 ¶ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth 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 maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth 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.

1 These are the words of king Lamuel, the doctrine which his mother taught him:

2 Ah, my chosen one, ah, thou son of my womb, ah, my desired son,

3 Leave not thy substance unto women, neither walk thou in the ways wherein kings corrupt themselves.

4 O, not to kings, Lamuel, give not wine to the kings to drink, nor strong drink to the princes.

5 they want to drink and forget the rights and change the cause of some wretched people.

6 Give strong drink to them that shall perish, and wine to the afflicted souls,

7 That they may drink, and forget their miseries, and remember their calamities no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the cause of all that are forsaken.

9 Open thy mouth, and judge righteously, and avenge the wretched and the poor.

10 To whom a virtuous woman is given, she is far more precious than the most precious pearls.

11 Her husband's heart may rely upon her, and food shall not fail him.

12 She loveth him, and harmeth him not all his days.

13 She handleeth wool and flax, and worketh gladly with her hands.

14 she is like a merchant ship that brings its food from afar.

15 She riseth up by night, and giveth food to her house, and meat to her maidens.

16 she thinks of .a field and buys it and plants a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.

17 She girdeth up her loins, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth how her commerce bringeth piety: her lamp goeth not out by night.

19 She stretcheth forth her hand toward the skirt, and her fingers grasp the spindle.

20 She stretcheth out her hands to the poor, and giveth her hand to the needy.

21 She feareth not the snow from her house: for all her house hath twofold garments.

22 She maketh her own covering; white silk and purple is her garment.

23 Her husband is renowned in the gates, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.

24 She maketh a skirt, and selleth it: one girdle she giveth to the grocer.

25 Her ornament is that she is clean and diligent; and she shall laugh afterward.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and upon her tongue is blessed doctrine.

27 She looketh on the things of her house, and eateth not her bread with sloth.

28 Her sons arise, and call her blessed; her husband praiseth her.

29 Many daughters bring wealth; but thou excellest them all.

30 To be lovely and beautiful is nothing; a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 She shall be praised by the fruits of her hands; and her works shall she praise in the gates.