| Chapter 31
|
1 | The words of king
Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. |
2 | What, my son? and what, the son of my womb?
and what, the son of my vows? |
3 | Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which
destroyeth kings. |
4 |
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for
princes strong drink: |
5 |
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of
the afflicted. |
6 |
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be
of heavy hearts. |
7 |
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
|
8 | Open thy mouth
for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. |
9 | Open thy mouth, judge
righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. |
10 | Who can find a virtuous woman?
for her price is far above rubies. |
11 | The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so
that he shall have no need of spoil. |
12 | She will do him good and not evil all the days of her
life. |
13 | She
seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. |
14 | She is like the merchants'
ships; she bringeth her food from afar. |
15 | She riseth also while it is yet night, and
giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. |
16 | She considereth a field, and
buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. |
17 | She girdeth her loins with
strength, and strengtheneth her arms. |
18 | She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
her candle goeth not out by night. |
19 | She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold
the distaff. |
20 |
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to
the needy. |
21 |
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are
clothed with scarlet. |
22
| She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and
purple. |
23 | Her
husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
|
24 | She maketh fine
linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. |
25 | Strength and honour are
her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. |
26 | She openeth her mouth with
wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. |
27 | She looketh well to the ways of
her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. |
28 | Her children arise up, and call
her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. |
29 | Many daughters have done
virtuously, but thou excellest them all. |
30 | Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a
woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. |
31 | Give her of the fruit of her
hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. |
