1The sayings of King Lemuel – an inspired utterance his mother taught him.2Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!3Do not spend your strength[1] on women, your vigour on those who ruin kings.4It is not for kings, Lemuel – it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.6Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!7Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.9Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.10[2] A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.11Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.12She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.14She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.15She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.16She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.17She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.18She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.19In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.20She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.21When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.22She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.23Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.24She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.25She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.26She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.28Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:29‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.31Honour her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31
English Standard Version
The Words of King Lemuel
1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:2What are you doing, my son?[1] What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? (1Sa 1:27; Isa 49:15)3Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. (De 17:17; 1Ki 11:1; Ne 13:26; Pr 5:9; Pr 7:26)4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, (1Ki 16:9; 1Ki 20:16; Pr 20:1; Ec 10:17; Ho 4:11)5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. (Isa 5:22)6Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;[2] (Job 3:20; Job 29:13)7let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. (Ps 104:15)8Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.[3] (Job 29:12; Job 29:15; Isa 1:17)9Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Le 19:15; De 1:16; Ps 40:17; Ps 86:1; Pr 31:20; Isa 1:17; Jer 22:16)
The Woman Who Fears the Lord
10[4] An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. (Ru 3:11; Job 28:18; Pr 12:4; Pr 18:22; Pr 19:14)11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.13She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. (Pr 31:21; Pr 31:24)14She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.15She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. (Ps 111:5; Pr 20:13; Lu 12:42)16She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.17She dresses herself[5] with strength and makes her arms strong. (Pr 31:25)18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.19She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.20She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. (Pr 31:9; Ro 12:13; Eph 4:28)21She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[6] (2Sa 1:24)22She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. (Ge 41:42; Jud 8:26; Pr 7:16; Re 19:8; Re 19:14)23Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. (Ru 4:1)24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. (Jud 14:12; Isa 3:23)25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. (Pr 31:17)26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.27She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:29“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” (Pr 31:10; So 6:9)30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Pr 11:16)31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.