Proverbs 31

¹The words of King Lemuel . An oracle that his mother taught him:

²What are you doing , my son ? What are you doing , son of my womb ? What are you doing , son of my vows ?

³Do not give your strength to women , your ways to those who destroy kings .

⁴It is not for kings , O Lemuel , it is not for kings to drink wine , or for rulers to take strong drink ,

⁵lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted .

⁶Give strong drink to the one who is perishing , and wine to those in bitter distress ;

⁷let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more .

⁸Open your mouth for the mute , for the rights of all who are destitute .

⁹Open your mouth , judge righteously , defend the rights of the poor and needy .

¹⁰An excellent wife who can find ? She is far more precious than jewels .

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 .

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 .

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard .

¹⁷She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong .

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 .

²¹She is not afraid of snow for her household , for all her household are clothed in scarlet .

²²She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple .

²³Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land .

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant .

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing , and she laughs at the time to come .

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:

²⁹Many women have done excellently , but you surpass them all .

³⁰Charm is deceitful , and beauty is vain , but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised .

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands , and let her works praise her in the gates .