Proverbs 31 — NETB

31Verse 1The words of King Lemuel,
an oracle that his mother taught him:
^{Verse 2}O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
^{Verse 3}Do not give your strength to women,
nor your ways to that which ruins kings.
^{Verse 4}It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to crave strong drink,
^{Verse 5}lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
and remove from all the poor their legal rights.
^{Verse 6}Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those who are bitterly distressed;
^{Verse 7}let them drink and forget their poverty,
and remember their misery no more.
^{Verse 8}Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak,
for the legal rights of all the dying.
^{Verse 9}Open your mouth, judge in righteousness,
and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Wife of Noble Character

^{Verse 10}Who can find a wife of noble character?
For her value is far more than rubies.
^{Verse 11}The heart of her husband has confidence in her,
and he has no lack of gain.
^{Verse 12}She brings him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
^{Verse 13}She obtains wool and flax,
and she is pleased to work with her hands.
^{Verse 14}She is like the merchant ships;
she brings her food from afar.
^{Verse 15}She also gets up while it is still night,
and provides food for her household and a portion to her female servants.
^{Verse 16}She considers a field and buys it;
from her own income she plants a vineyard.
^{Verse 17}She begins her work vigorously,
and she strengthens her arms.
^{Verse 18}She knows that her merchandise is good,
and her lamp does not go out in the night.
^{Verse 19}Her hands take hold of the distaff,
and her hands grasp the spindle.
^{Verse 20}She extends her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hand to the needy.
^{Verse 21}She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
for all of her household are clothed with scarlet.
^{Verse 22}She makes for herself coverlets;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
^{Verse 23}Her husband is well-known in the city gate
when he sits with the elders of the land.
^{Verse 24}She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
^{Verse 25}She is clothed with strength and honor,
and she can laugh at the time to come.
^{Verse 26}She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and loving instruction is on her tongue.
^{Verse 27}She watches over the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
^{Verse 28}Her children rise up and call her blessed,
her husband also praises her:
^{Verse 29}“Many daughters have done valiantly,
but you surpass them all!”
^{Verse 30}Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
^{Verse 31}Give her credit for what she has accomplished,and let her works praise her in the city gates.