Proverbs Chapter 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy which his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? And what, the son of my womb? And what, the son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to what destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine. Nor for princes to lust for strong drink;
5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to those who are ready to perish and wine to those who are of heavy hearts.
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the speechless⁺. Speak for all who are headed⁺ toward destruction.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a woman of virtue? For her value is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts safely in her, so that he shall have no need of plunder.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships. She brings her food from far away.
15 She also rises while it is still night, and gives food to her household, and a share to her young women.
16 She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She binds her body⁺ with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She sees that her merchandise is good. Her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretches out her hand to the poor. Yes, she reaches 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 makes herself coverings. Her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes fine linen and sells it, and delivers belts⁺ to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing. And she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. And in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looks well to 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 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.