Wise Words of King Lemuel

31 These are the words of King Lemuel, the message his mother taught him:

2  “My son, I gave birth to you.

You are the son I prayed for.

3  Don’t waste your strength on women

or your time on those who ruin kings.

4  “Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel,

and rulers should not desire beer.

5  If they drink, they might forget the law

and keep the needy from getting their rights.

6  Give beer to people who are dying

and wine to those who are sad.

7  Let them drink and forget their need

and remember their misery no more.

8  “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;

defend the rights of all those who have nothing.

9  Speak up and judge fairly,

and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

The Good Wife

10  It is hard to find a good wife,

because she is worth more than rubies.

11  Her husband trusts her completely.

With her, he has everything he needs.

12  She does him good and not harm

for as long as she lives.

13  She looks for wool and flax

and likes to work with her hands.

14  She is like a trader’s ship,

bringing food from far away.

15  She gets up while it is still dark

and prepares food for her family

and feeds her servant girls.

16  She inspects a field and buys it.

With money she earned, she plants a vineyard.

17  She does her work with energy,

and her arms are strong.

18  She knows that what she makes is good.

Her lamp burns late into the night.

19  She makes thread with her hands

and weaves her own cloth.

20  She welcomes the poor

and helps the needy.

21  She does not worry about her family when it snows,

because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm.

22  She makes coverings for herself;

her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.

23  Her husband is known at the city meetings,

where he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.

24  She makes linen clothes and sells them

and provides belts to the merchants.

25  She is strong and is respected by the people.

She looks forward to the future with joy.

26  She speaks wise words

and teaches others to be kind.

27  She watches over her family

and never wastes her time.

28  Her children speak well of her.

Her husband also praises her,

29  saying, “There are many fine women,

but you are better than all of them.”

30  Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you,

but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.

31  Give her the reward she has earned;

she should be praised in public for what she has done.