Proverbs 31

Sayings of King Lemuel

31The sayings^s of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

²Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!

Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!^t

³Do not spend your strength^a on women,

your vigor on those who ruin kings.^u

⁴It is not for kings, Lemuel—

it is not for kings to drink wine,^v

not for rulers to crave beer,

⁵lest they drink^w and forget what has been decreed,^x

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

⁶Let beer be for those who are perishing,

wine^y for those who are in anguish!

⁷Let them drink^z and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

⁸Speak^a up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

⁹Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy.^b

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^10bA wife of noble character^c who can find?^d

She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹Her husband^e has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.^f

¹²She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

¹³She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.^g

¹⁴She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵She gets up while it is still night;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her female servants.

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy.^h

²¹When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²²She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the eldersⁱ of the land.

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.^j

²⁷She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹“Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.”

³⁰Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

³¹Honor her for all that her hands have done,

and let her works bring her praise^k at the city gate.