31:1 My words have been spoken by God-- the
oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
31:2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son,
I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
31:3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do
all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
31:4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
31:5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor
rightly.
31:6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to
those in pain:
31:7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles
any more.
31:8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
31:9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and
weak.
31:10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than
precious stones.
31:11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no
need of fine spoils.
31:12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
31:13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
31:14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her
livelihood.
31:15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and
[appointed] tasks to her maidens.
31:16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she
plants and a possession.
31:17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
31:18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes
not out all night.
31:19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands
to the spindle.
31:20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the
poor.
31:21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries
anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
31:22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for
herself of fine linen and scarlet.
31:23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he
sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
31:24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens
her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
31:25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
31:26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
31:27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of
idleness.
31:28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they
grow rich, and her husband praises her.
31:29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but
thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
31:30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman
that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
31:31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in
the gates. |
31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy
that his mother taught him.
31:2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my
vows?
31:3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth
kings.
31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor
for princes strong drink:
31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of
the afflicted.
31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those
that be of heavy hearts.
31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed
to destruction.
31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and
needy.
31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall
have no need of spoil.
31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
31:14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her
household, and a portion to her maidens.
31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands
she planteth a vineyard.
31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out
by night.
31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her
hands to the needy.
31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household
are clothed with scarlet.
31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and
purple.
31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of
the land.
31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the
merchant.
31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to
come.
31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of
kindness.
31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the
bread of idleness.
31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he
praiseth her.
31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the
LORD, she shall be praised.
31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her
in the gates. |