31:1 The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him: |
31:2 What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows? |
31:3 Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings. |
31:4 It does not seem proper for kings, O Lemuel, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, |
31:5 For they will drink and forget what they have decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted. |
31:6 Give strong drink to him who perishes, And wine to him whose life has become bitter. |
31:7 Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more. |
31:8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate. |
31:9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. |
31:10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth far exceeds jewels. |
31:11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. |
31:12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. |
31:13 She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. |
31:14 She resembles merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. |
31:15 She rises also in the night time And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens. |
31:16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. |
31:17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. |
31:18 She senses that her gain seems good; Her lamp does not go out at night. |
31:19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. |
31:20 She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy. |
31:21 She does not fear the snow for her household, For she clothes all her household with scarlet. |
31:22 She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing consists of fine linen and purple. |
31:23 People know her husband in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. |
31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. |
31:25 Strength and dignity have become her clothing, And she smiles at the future. |
31:26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness resides on her tongue. |
31:27 She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. |
31:28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: |
31:29 "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all." |
31:30 We find charm deceitful and beauty as vanity, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall receive praise. |
31:31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates. |