Proverbs 31
31
The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother
1The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
2What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, #Is. 49:15son of my vows?
3#Prov. 5:9Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways #Deut. 17:17; 1 Kin. 11:1; Neh. 13:26; Prov. 7:26; Hos. 4:11to that which destroys kings.
4#Eccl. 10:17It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
5#Hos. 4:11Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
6#Ps. 104:15Give 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.
8#Job 29:15, 16; Ps. 82Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9Open your mouth, #Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:16judge righteously,
And #Job 29:12; Is. 1:17; Jer. 22:16plead the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtuous Wife
10#Ruth 3:11; Prov. 12:4; 19:14Who can find a virtuous 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.
15#Prov. 20:13; Rom. 12:11She also rises while it is yet night,
And #Luke 12:42provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
From her 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.
20#Deut. 15:11; Job 31:16–20; Prov. 22:9; Rom. 12:13; Eph. 4:28; Heb. 13:16She 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.
23#Prov. 12:4Her 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.
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Proverbs 31: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.