Proverbs 31

Veritable King James Version

¹The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:

²What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?

³Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to those who destroy kings.

⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to crave strong drink,

⁵lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the justice due to the afflicted.

⁶Give strong drink to the perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;

⁷let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.

⁸Open your mouth for the mute, for the cause of all who are destitute.

⁹Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.

¹⁰Who can find a woman of valor? Her worth is far above jewels.

¹¹Her husband’s heart trusts in her, and he lacks no gain.

¹²She does him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

¹³She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

¹⁴She is like merchant ships, bringing food from afar.

¹⁵She rises while it is still night, and provides food for her household and tasks for her servants.

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong.

¹⁸She perceives that her trade is profitable; her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers grasp the spindle.

²⁰She opens her hand to the poor, and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹She fears not the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

²²She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³Her husband is known in the gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes to the merchants.

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the days to come.

²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

²⁷She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children rise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹“Many women have done valiantly, but you surpass them all.”

³⁰Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Chapter 31