Proverbs chapter 31 The words
of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him. What are
you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my
womb? What are you doing, son of my
vows? Do not give your strength to
women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for
kings, O Lemuel. It is not for kings to drink
wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget
what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, And wine to
those in bitter distress. Let them drink and forget their
poverty, And remember their misery no more. Open your mouth for
the mute, For the rights of all who are destitute. Open your
mouth, judge righteously, Defend the rights of the poor and needy. An excellent wife, who can find? She is far more precious than
jewels. The heart of her husband trusts
in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and
not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax
and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the
merchant. She brings her food from afar. She rises while it
is yet night and provides food for her household and portions
for her maidens. She considers a field and buys
it. With the fruit of her hands she
plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise
is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff
and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid
of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed
in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known
in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes
linen garments and sells them. She delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her
clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth
with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of
her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children
rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises
her. Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty
is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her
hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.