Proverbs 31

The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

31The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

²What, my son?

And what, son of my womb?

And what, ^ason of my vows?

^3bDo not give your strength to women,

Nor your ways ^cto that which destroys kings.

^4dIt is not for kings, O Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

^5eLest they drink and forget the law,

And pervert the justice of all ¹the afflicted.

^6fGive strong drink to him who is perishing,

And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

⁷Let him drink and forget his poverty,

And remember his misery no more.

^8gOpen your mouth for the speechless,

In the cause of all who are ²appointed to die.

⁹Open your mouth, ^hjudge righteously,

And ⁱplead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtuous Wife

^10jWho ³can find a ⁴virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.

¹¹The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain.

¹²She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

¹³She seeks wool and flax,

And willingly works with her hands.

¹⁴She is like the merchant ships,

She brings her food from afar.

^15kShe also rises while it is yet night,

And ^lprovides food for her household,

And a portion for her maidservants.

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;

From ⁵her profits she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷She girds herself with strength,

And strengthens her arms.

¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is good,

And her lamp does not go out by night.

¹⁹She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hand holds the spindle.

^20mShe extends her hand to the poor,

Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹She is not afraid of snow for her household,

For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

²²She makes tapestry for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³ⁿHer husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies sashes for the merchants.

²⁵Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom,

And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her 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.”

³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates.