Amsal 31

31:1 The words of King Lemuel, ¹ 

an oracle ²  that his mother taught him:

31:2 O ³  my son, O son of my womb,

O son ⁴  of my vows,

31:3 Do not give your strength ⁵  to women,

nor your ways ⁶  to that which ruins ⁷  kings.

31:4 It is not for kings, ⁸  O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine, ⁹ 

or for rulers to crave strong drink, ¹⁰ 

31:5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed,

and remove ¹¹  from all the poor ¹²  their legal rights. ¹³ 

31:6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, ¹⁴ 

and wine to those who are bitterly distressed; ¹⁵ 

31:7 let them ¹⁶  drink and forget ¹⁷  their poverty,

and remember their misery no more.

31:8 Open your mouth ¹⁸  on behalf of those unable to speak, ¹⁹ 

for the legal rights of all the dying. ²⁰ 

31:9 Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, ²¹ 

and plead the cause ²²  of the poor and needy.

31:10 Who can find ²⁴  a wife ²⁵  of noble character? ²⁶ 

For her value ²⁷  is far more than rubies.

31:11 The heart of her husband has confidence ²⁸  in her,

and he has no lack of gain. ²⁹ 

31:12 She brings him ³⁰  good and not evil ³¹ 

all the days of her life.

31:13 She obtains ³²  wool and flax,

and she is pleased to work with her hands. ³³ 

31:14 She is like ³⁴  the merchant ships; ³⁵ 

she brings her food from afar.

31:15 She also gets up ³⁶  while it is still night,

and provides food ³⁷  for her household and a portion ³⁸  to her female servants.

31:16 She considers ³⁹  a field and buys it;

from her own income ⁴⁰  she plants a vineyard.

31:17 She begins ⁴¹  her work vigorously,

and she strengthens ⁴²  her arms.

31:18 She knows ⁴³  that her merchandise is good,

and her lamp ⁴⁴  does not go out in the night.

31:19 Her hands ⁴⁵  take hold ⁴⁶  of the distaff,

and her hands grasp the spindle.

31:20 She extends ⁴⁷  her hand ⁴⁸  to the poor,

and reaches out her hand to the needy.

31:21 She is not ⁴⁹  afraid of the snow ⁵⁰  for her household,

for all of her household are clothed with scarlet. ⁵¹ 

31:22 She makes for herself coverlets; ⁵² 

her clothing is fine linen and purple. ⁵³ 

31:23 Her husband is well-known ⁵⁴  in the city gate ⁵⁵ 

when he sits with the elders ⁵⁶  of the land.

31:24 She makes linen garments ⁵⁷  and sells them,

and supplies the merchants ⁵⁸  with sashes.

31:25 She is clothed ⁵⁹  with strength ⁶⁰  and honor, ⁶¹ 

and she can laugh ⁶²  at the time ⁶³  to come.

31:26 She opens her mouth ⁶⁴  with wisdom,

and loving instruction ⁶⁵  is on her tongue.

31:27 She watches over ⁶⁶  the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness. ⁶⁷ 

31:28 Her children rise up ⁶⁸  and call her blessed,

her husband ⁶⁹  also praises her:

31:29 “Many ⁷⁰  daughters ⁷¹  have done valiantly, ⁷² 

but you surpass them all!”

31:30 Charm is deceitful ⁷³  and beauty is fleeting, ⁷⁴ 

but a woman who fears the Lord ⁷⁵  will be praised.

31:31 Give ⁷⁶  her credit for what she has accomplished, ⁷⁷ 

and let her works praise her ⁷⁸  in the city gates. ⁷⁹