Proverbs 31:1-17

¹The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

²What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? And what, the son of my vows?

³Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes strong drink:

⁵Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

⁶Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

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

⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰(א) Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

¹¹(ב) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, So that he shall have no need of spoil.

¹²(ג) She will do him good and not evil All the days of her life.

¹³(ד) She seeketh wool, and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.

¹⁴(ה) She is like the merchant’s ships; She bringeth her food from afar.

¹⁵(ו) She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth meat to her household, And a portion to her maidens.

¹⁶(ז) She considereth a field, and buyeth it: With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

¹⁷(ח) She girdeth her loins with strength, And strengtheneth her arms.