Chapter 31
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Give not your substance to women, and your riches to destroy kings.
4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigns:
5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open your mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Open your mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She has sought wool and flax, and has wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is like the merchant's ship, she brings her bread from afar.
15 And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 She has considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she has planted a vineyard.
17 She has girded her loins with strength, and has strengthened her arm.
18 She has tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 She has put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She has opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 She has made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 She made fine linen, and sold it, end delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She has looked well to the paths of her house, and has not eaten her bread idle.
28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: you have surpassed them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.