Proverbs

1The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

2“Oh, my son!Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

3Don’t give your strength to women,nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4It is not for kings, Lemuel,it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

5lest they drink, and forget the law,and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

6Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,and wine to the bitter in soul.

7Let him drink, and forget his poverty,and remember his misery no more.

8Open your mouth for the mute,in the cause of all who are left desolate.

9Open your mouth, judge righteously,and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

10Who can find a worthy woman?For her value is far above rubies.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her.He shall 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 eagerly with her hands.

14She is like the merchant ships.She brings her bread from afar.

15She rises also while it is yet night,gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.

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

17She arms her waist with strength,and makes her arms strong.

18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.

19She lays her hands to the distaff,and her hands hold the spindle.

20She opens her arms to the poor;yes, she extends her hands to the needy.

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

22She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

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

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

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

26She opens her mouth with wisdom.Kind instruction is on her tongue.

27She looks well to the ways of her household,and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children rise up and call her blessed.Her husband also praises her:

29“Many women do noble things,but you excel them all.”

30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands!Let her works praise her in the gates!

The Sayings for King Lemuel

1These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

2What shall I say,O my son?What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

3Do not spend your strength on womenor your vigor on those who ruin kings.

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

5lest they drink and forget what is decreed,depriving all the oppressed of justice.

6Give strong drink to one who is perishing,and wine to the bitter in soul.

7Let him drink and forget his poverty,and remember his misery no more.

8Open your mouth for those with no voice,for the cause of all the dispossessed.

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

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

10A wifeof noble character, who can find?She is far more precious than rubies.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her,and he lacks nothing of value.

12She brings him good and not harmall the days of her life.

13She selects wool and flaxand works with eager hands.

14She is like the merchant ships,bringing her food from afar.

15She rises while it is still nightto provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

16She appraises a field and buys it;from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17She girds herselfwith strengthand shows that her arms are strong.

18She sees that her gain is good,and her lamp is not extinguished at night.

19She stretches out her hands to the distaffand grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20She opens her arms to the poorand reaches out her hands to the needy.

21When it snows, she has no fear for her household,for they are all clothed in scarlet.

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

23Her husband is known at the city gates,where he sits among the elders of the land.

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

25Strength and honor are her clothing,and she can laugh at the days to come.

26She opens her mouth with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27She watches over the affairs of her householdand does not eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children rise up and call her blessed;her husband praises her as well:

29“Many daughters have done noble things,but you surpass them all!”

30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

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