Proverbs / Advice to King Lemuel and the Virtuous Woman

Advice to King Lemuel and the Virtuous Woman

Proverbs 31:1-31

Chapter 31

¹ The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him. ² What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? ³ Do not give your strength to women, your ways to that which destroys kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel—not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers, strong drink. ⁵ lest he drink and forget the lawgiver and alter the judgment of all the sons of the oppressed. ⁶ Give strong drink to the perishing and wine to those bitter in life force. ⁷ He will drink and forget his poverty, and he will not remember his toil anymore. ⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, for the judgment of all the sons of passing away. ⁹ Open your mouth; judge righteousness and judge the poor and needy. ¹⁰ Who can find a wife of might? Its price is far above pearls. ¹¹ Her husband trusts in her with all his heart, and he will not lack spoil. ¹² She chews the cud for him good and not moral evil all the days of her life. ¹³ She sought wool and linen, and she worked with the favor of her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships; she brings her bread from afar. ¹⁵ She rises while it is still night and gives prey to her house and statute to her young women. ¹⁶ She considers a field and takes it; from the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms. ¹⁸ She has tasted that her merchandise is good; her lamp does not go out in the night. ¹⁹ She puts out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold the distaff. ²⁰ She spreads out her palm to the poor, and she sends out her hands to the needy. ²¹ She does not fear snow for her house, for all her house is clothed in scarlet. ²² She has made coverings for herself; fine linen and purple are her clothing. ²³ Her husband is known in the gates when he sits with the elders of the land. ²⁴ She makes linen and sells it, and she gives a belt to the Canaanite. ²⁵ She is clothed with might and majesty, and she laughs at the last day. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the Torah of steadfast love is upon her tongue. ²⁷ She watches over the ways of her house of God, and she does not eat the bread of the Presence of slothfulness. ²⁸ Her sons rose and blessed her, their owner/master, and praised her. ²⁹ Many daughters have done mightily, but you have ascended above all of them. ³⁰ Falsehood is grace and vanity is beauty; a woman who fears the LORD, she will be praised. ³¹ Give her from the fruit of her hands, and let her be praised in the gates by her deeds.