Proverbs 31
31
1The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24She made fine linen, and sold it, end delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Proverbs 31
31
Wise Words of King Lemuel
1These are the words of King Lemuel, the message his mother taught him:
2“My son, I gave birth to you.
You are the son I prayed for.
3Don’t waste your strength on women
or your time on those who ruin kings.
4“Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel,
and rulers should not desire beer.
5If they drink, they might forget the law
and keep the needy from getting their rights.
6Give beer to people who are dying
and wine to those who are sad.
7Let them drink and forget their need
and remember their misery no more.
8“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
defend the rights of all those who have nothing.
9Speak up and judge fairly,
and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
The Good Wife
10It is hard to find a good wife,
because she is worth more than rubies.
11Her husband trusts her completely.
With her, he has everything he needs.
12She does him good and not harm
for as long as she lives.
13She looks for wool and flax
and likes to work with her hands.
14She is like a trader’s ship,
bringing food from far away.
15She gets up while it is still dark
and prepares food for her family
and feeds her servant girls.
16She inspects a field and buys it.
With money she earned, she plants a vineyard.
17She does her work with energy,
and her arms are strong.
18She knows that what she makes is good.
Her lamp burns late into the night.
19She makes thread with her hands
and weaves her own cloth.
20She welcomes the poor
and helps the needy.
21She does not worry about her family when it snows,
because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm.
22She makes coverings for herself;
her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.
23Her husband is known at the city meetings,
where he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.
24She makes linen clothes and sells them
and provides belts to the merchants.
25She is strong and is respected by the people.
She looks forward to the future with joy.
26She speaks wise words
and teaches others to be kind.
27She watches over her family
and never wastes her time.
28Her children speak well of her.
Her husband also praises her,
29saying, “There are many fine women,
but you are better than all of them.”
30Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you,
but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
31Give her the reward she has earned;
she should be praised in public for what she has done.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.