Proverbs 31
The Sayings for King Lemuel
¹ These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
² What shall I say,1 O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
³ Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
⁵ lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
⁶ Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
⁷ Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
⁸ Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtues of a Noble Woman
¹⁰ A wife 2 of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
¹⁶ She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself 3 with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
¹⁸ She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.4
²² She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
²⁹ “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.