Proverbs 31

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

² What are you doing, my son?
What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?

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

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to desire strong drink,

⁵ lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

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

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

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

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

¹⁰ A valiant woman who can find?
She is far more precious than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband's heart trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.

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

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

¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.

¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.

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

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

²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

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

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

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.

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

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

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

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

²⁹ 'Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.'

³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.