31:1 The sayings of King Lemuel–an oracle his mother taught him:
31:2 “O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
31:3 do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
31:4 “It is not for kings, O Lemuel–not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
31:5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
31:6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish;
31:7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
31:8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
31:9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
31:10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
31:11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
31:12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
31:13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
31:14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
31:15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
31:16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
31:17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
31:18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
31:19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
31:21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
31:22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
31:23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
31:26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
31:27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
31:28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
31:29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31:31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
31:1 The words of King Lemuel. The oracle which his mother taught him.
31:2 What, 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, / Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; / Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?
31:5 Lest they drink and forget what is decreed, / And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
31:6 Give strong drink rather to one who is perishing, / And wine to the bitter in soul;
31:7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, / And remember his misery no more.
31:8 Open your mouth for the dumb, / And for the rights of all those who are passing away.
31:9 Open your mouth; judge righteously, / And minister justice to the poor and needy.
31:10 Who can find a worthy woman? / For her price is far above corals.
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 seeks wool and flax, / And delights to work with her hands.
31:14 She is like the merchant ships; / She brings her food from afar.
31:15 She rises also while it is still night / And gives food to her household, / And their task to her serving girls.
31:16 She considers a field and buys it; / With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
31:17 She girds her loins with strength / And makes strong her arms.
31:18 She samples her merchandise to be sure it is good; / Her lamp does not go out by night.
31:19 She lays her hands to the distaff, / And her hands hold on to the spindle.
31:20 She stretches out her hand to the afflicted, / And she reaches out her hands to the needy.
31:21 She does not fear for her household when it snows, / For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
31:22 She makes coverings for herself; / Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, / When he sits among the elders of the land.
31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them / And delivers girdles to the merchant.
31:25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, / And she happily looks forward to the time to come.
31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, / And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
31:27 She watches closely over the ways of her household / And does not eat the bread of idleness.
31:28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; / Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
31:29 Many daughters have done worthily, / But you surpass them all.
31:30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; / But a woman who fears Jehovah, she will be praised.
31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, / And let her works praise her in the gates.