Proverbs 31

31 ¹ The words of King Lemuel — an oracle his mother taught him: ² What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows? ³ Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel — not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink. ⁵ For if they drink, they will forget what is decreed and pervert the rights of all the oppressed. ⁶ Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress. ⁷ Let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more. ⁸ Open your mouth for the voiceless, for the rights of all who are left destitute. ⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.

A Woman of Valor

¹⁰ A woman of valor — who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels. ¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will lack nothing of value. ¹² She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life. ¹³ She seeks out wool and flax, and works with willing hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. ¹⁵ She rises while it is still night, provides food for her household, and portions for her servant girls. ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; from the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She wraps herself in strength and makes her arms strong. ¹⁸ She perceives that her trading is profitable; her lamp does not go out at night. ¹⁹ She puts her hands to the spinning staff, and her hands grasp the spindle. ²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. ²¹ She has no fear for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. ²² She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. ^a a v23 The city gates were the civic center of ancient towns — where elders gathered to settle legal cases and community matters. ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes to the merchants. ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the days to come. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ²⁹ "Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all. ³⁰ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who reveres our Father — she will be praised. ³¹ Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.