31:1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
31:2 `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
31:3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
31:4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
31:5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
31:6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
31:7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
31:10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies `is' her price.
31:11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
31:12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
31:13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh `with' her hands.
31:14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
31:15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
31:16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
31:17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
31:18 She hath perceived when her merchandise `is' good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
31:19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
31:20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
31:21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed `with' scarlet.
31:22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple `are' her clothing.
31:23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
31:24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
31:25 Strength and honour `are' her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
31:26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness `is' on her tongue.
31:27 She `is' watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
31:28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
31:29 `Many `are' the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
31:30 The grace `is' false, and the beauty `is' vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31:31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!