|
Chapter 31 |
| 1 | The words of
king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. |
| 2 | What, my son?
and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? |
| 3 | Give not
thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
|
| 4 | It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor
for princes strong drink: |
|
5 | Lest they drink, and forget the law,
and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. |
| 6 | Give strong
drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy
hearts. |
| 7 |
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery
no more. |
| 8
| Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as
are appointed to destruction. |
|
9 | Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and
plead the cause of the poor and needy. |
| 10 | Who can find a virtuous
woman? for her price is far above rubies. |
|
11 | The heart of her husband
doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. |
| 12 |
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. |
| 13 | She
seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. |
| 14 | She
is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. |
| 15 | She
riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a
portion to her maidens. |
| 16 | She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with
the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. |
| 17 | She girdeth
her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. |
| 18 | She
perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by
night. |
| 19
| She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold
the distaff. |
|
20 | She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she
reacheth forth her hands to the needy. |
| 21 | She is not afraid of the snow
for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. |
| 22 |
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and
purple. |
| 23
| Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among
the elders of the land. |
| 24 | She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and
delivereth girdles unto the merchant. |
| 25 | Strength and honour are her
clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. |
| 26 | She openeth
her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. |
| 27 |
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of
idleness. |
| 28
| Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband
also, and he praiseth her. |
|
29 | Many daughters have done virtuously,
but thou excellest them all. |
|
30 | Favour is deceitful, and beauty is
vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. |
| 31 | Give
her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the
gates. |
