Proverbs
31 The words of King Lemuel of Massa, in which his mother instructed him.
2 What, my son? and what, son of my body?
and what, son of my vows?
5 For fear one should drink and forget legality
and unsettle justice in the case of any of the downtrodden.
6 Give beer to a ruined man
and wine to men with sore hearts;
7 Let one drink and forget his poverty
and no longer remember his trouble.
8* Open your mouth for a voiceless man,
to give justice in the case of any who have no firm footing in life;
9 Open your mouth, judge fairly,
and give verdicts for an unfortunate and a needy man.
11 Her husband’s heart rests confident in her,
and he has no lack of winnings.
12 She does him good and never harm
all her life long.
13 She looks up wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like a trader’s ships,
brings her bread from far away.
15 And she rises while it is still night
and gives provisions to her household
and a ration to her girls.
16 She plans for a field and gets it;
out of the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She belts her waist with strength
and puts energy into her arms.
18 She perceives that her business is good—
her lamp does not go out in the night.
19 She reaches her arms to the distaff
and her hands work the spindle.
20 She opens her hands to the unfortunate man
and reaches them out to the needy one.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household
because her household is all wearing scarlet.
22 She makes herself sleeping-rugs;
her dress is lawn and purple.
23 Her husband is a marked man in the gates
when he sits with the elders of the country.
24 She makes a cambric wrapper and sells it
and gives a belt to the merchant.
25 Strength and stateliness are her dress,
and she laughs at a future day.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom
and has friendly instructions on her tongue
28 Her sons stand up and felicitate her;
her husband, and praises her:
29 “Many have been the daughters that made notable records,
but you overtop them all.”
30 Charm is a cheat and beauty is a bubble;
a woman who fears Jehovah is the one to praise.
31 Give her fruits of her own hands
and let her own work praise her in the gates.