【Proverbs】Chapter 31 << Last Chapter

31:1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa. The advice which his mother gave him:

31:2 What, my son, my first-born! what, O son of my womb; what, O son of my vows!

31:3 Give not your vigor to women, nor your strength to those who ruin kings.

31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes!

31:5 Lest in drinking they forget what the law decrees, and violate the rights of all who are in need.

31:6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed;

31:7 When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their burdens.

31:8 Open your mouth in behalf of the dumb, and for the rights of the destitute;

31:9 Open your mouth, decree what is just, defend the needy and the poor!

31:10 When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.

31:11 Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.

31:12 She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

31:13 She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands.

31:14 Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar.

31:15 She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household.

31:16 She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

31:17 She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.

31:18 She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed.

31:19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.

31:20 She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.

31:21 She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are doubly clothed.

31:22 She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.

31:23 Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.

31:24 She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.

31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come.

31:26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel.

31:27 She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness.

31:28 Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:

31:29 "Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all."

31:30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31:31 Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.

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