The Words of Lemuel

31:1 The words of King Lemuel,¹
an oracle² that his mother taught him:
31:2 O³ my son, O son of my womb,
O son⁴ of my vows,
31:3 Do not give your strength⁵ to women,
nor your ways⁶ to that which ruins⁷ kings.
31:4 It is not for kings,⁸ O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,⁹
nor for rulers to crave¹⁰ strong drink,
31:5 lest they drink and forget that which is decreed,
and remove¹¹ from all the poor¹² their rights.¹³
31:6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,¹⁴
and wine to those who are distressed;¹⁵
31:7 Let them¹⁶ drink and forget¹⁷ their poverty,
and remember their misery no more.
31:8 Open your mouth¹⁸ to the dumb,¹⁹
for the legal rights of all the dying.²⁰
31:9 Open your mouth, judge in righteousness,²¹
and plead the cause²² of the poor and needy.

The Wife of Noble Character²³

31:10 A wife²⁴ of noble character²⁵ who can find?²⁶
For her value²⁷ is far more than rubies.
31:11 The heart of her husband has confidence²⁸ in her
and he has no lack of gain.²⁹
31:12 She brings him³⁰ good and not evil³¹
all the days of her life.
31:13 She obtains³² wool and flax,
and she is pleased to work with her hands.³³
31:14 She is like³⁴ the merchant ships,³⁵
she brings her food from afar.
31:15 She also rises³⁶ while it is still night
and provides food³⁷ for her household
and a portion³⁸ to her maidservants.
31:16 She considers³⁹ a field, and buys it;
from the fruit of her hands⁴⁰ she plants a vineyard.
31:17 She begins⁴¹ her work vigorously;
and she strengthens⁴² her arms.
31:18 She knows⁴³ that her merchandise is good;
and her lamp⁴⁴ does not go out in the night.
31:19 Her hands⁴⁵ takes hold⁴⁶ of the distaff,
and her hands grasp the spindle.
31:20 She extends⁴⁷ her hand⁴⁸ to the poor;
and she reaches out her hand to the needy.
31:21 She is not⁴⁹ afraid of the snow⁵⁰ 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-known⁵⁴ in the gates⁵⁵
when he sits with the elders⁵⁶ of the land.
31:24 She makes linen garments⁵⁷ and sells them,
and supplies the merchants⁵⁸ with sashes.
31:25 She is clothed⁵⁹ with strength⁶⁰ and honor,⁶¹
and she can laugh⁶² at the time⁶³ to come.
31:26 She opens her mouth⁶⁴ with wisdom,
and loving instruction⁶⁵ is on her tongue.
31:27 She watches over⁶⁶ the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.⁶⁷
31:28 Her children rise up⁶⁸ and call her blessed,
her husband⁶⁹ also praises her:
31:29 “Many⁷⁰ daughters⁷¹ have done valiantly,⁷²
but you surpass them all.”
31:30 Charm is deceitful,⁷³ and beauty is vain.⁷⁴
But a woman who fears the LORD⁷⁵ will be praised.
31:31 Give⁷⁶ her from the fruit of her hands,⁷⁷
and let her works praise her⁷⁸ in the gates.⁷⁹