Proverbs 31

31^*The words of king ^aLemuel, ^bthe prophecy that his mother taught him.

²What, my ^cson? and what, ^dthe ^cson of my womb?

And what, ^ethe ^cson of my vows?

^3fGive not thy strength unto women,

Nor thy ways ^gto that which destroyeth kings.

^4hIt is not for kings, O ^aLemuel, it is not for kings ⁱto drink wine;

Nor for ^kprinces strong drink:

⁵Lest they drink, and forget the law,

And ^†pervert the judgment ^†of any of the afflicted.

^6lGive strong drink unto him that is ^mready to perish,

And wine unto those that be ^†of heavy hearts.

⁷Let him drink, and forget his poverty,

And remember his misery no more.

⁸ⁿOpen thy mouth for the dumb

In the cause of all ^†such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹Open thy mouth, ^ojudge righteously,

And ^npplead the cause of the ^qpoor and needy.

^10rWho can find ^sa virtuous woman?

For ^ther price is far above ^urubies.

¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,

So that he shall have no need of spoil.

¹²She will do him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

¹³She ^xseeketh wool, and flax,

And worketh willingly with her hands.

¹⁴She is like the merchants’ ships;

She bringeth her food from afar.

^15yShe riseth also while it is yet night,

And ^zgiveth meat to her household,

And ^aa portion to her maidens.

^16bShe considereth a field, and ^†buyeth it:

With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

^17cShe girdeth her loins with ^qstrength,

And strengtheneth her arms.

^18†She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:

Her ^dcandle goeth not out by night.

¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle,

And her hands hold the ^edistaff.

^20†She ^fstretcheth out her hand to the ^gpoor;

Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the ^gneedy.

²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household:

For all her household are clothed with ^||hscarlet.

²²She maketh herself ⁱcoverings of tapestry;

Her clothing is ^ksilk and ^lpurple.

^23mHer husband is known ⁿin the gates,

ⁿWhen he sitteth among the elders of the land.

²⁴She maketh ^ofine linen, and selleth it;

And delivereth girdles unto the ^pmerchant.

^25qStrength and honour are her clothing;

And ^rshe shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

And in her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household,

And eateth not the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praiseth her.

²⁹Many daughters ^||have done ^tvirtuously,

But thou excellest them all.

^30uFavour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:

But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands;

And let her own works praise her in the gates.