Proverbs 31

The words of Lemuel the king, a burden that his mother had instructed him: 2 What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? 3 Do not give to women your strength or your ways to cause kings to be wiped out. \* 4 {It is} not for kings, Lemuel, {it is} not for kings to drink wine or for dignitaries or intoxicating drink. 5 Lest he drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the legal claim of all the sons of the afflicted one. \* 6 Give intoxicating drink to the perishing one and wine to those bitter of soul. 7 He will drink and forget his poverty, and his trouble he will not remember again. \* 8 Open your mouth for a mute one, for the legal claim of all the sons of the one passing away. 9 Open your mouth, judge {with} righteousness, and plead the legal case of the afflicted one and poor one. \* 10 A woman of worth, who can find? And her value {is} far more than coral pearls. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and spoil he will not lack. 12 She does to him good and not evil all the days of her life. \* 13 She searches {for} wool and linens and works with the delight of her palms. 14 She is like the ships of a merchant; she brings her bread from far away. 15 And she rises while still night and gives food to her house and a portion to her young women. \* 16 She considers a field and gets it; from the fruit of her palms she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds her loins with strength, and she strengthens her arms. \* 18 She perceives that her profit {is} good; her lamp does not go out in the night. 19 She stretches out her hands at the distaff, and her palms grasp the spindle. \* 20 She spreads out her palm to the afflicted one, and she stretches out her hands to the poor one. 21 She does not fear for her house because of snow, for all her house is clothed {with} crimson. \* 22 She makes for herself coverings, fine linen and purple for her clothing. 23 Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land. \* 24 She makes a linen garment and sells, and a belt she gives to the Canaanite. 25 Strength and splendor {are} her clothing, and she laughs at a future day. \* 26 Her mouth opens with wisdom, and the law of covenant faithfulness {is} on her tongue. 27 She scans the goings on of her house, and the bread of laziness she does not eat. \* 28 Her sons rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her. 29 “Many daughters have acted {with} worth, but you yourself have ascended over all of them.” \* 30 The charm {is} falsehood and the beauty {is} vapor; a woman fearful of God, she herself will be praised. 31 Give to her from the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her at the gates.