Proverbs 31 · Clearspring

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 women or 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 wife of 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 harm all the days of her life.+ ¹³She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.+ ¹⁴She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.+ ¹⁵She rises while it is still night to 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 herself with strength and 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 distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.+ ²⁰She opens her arms to the poor and 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 household and 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.+

The Sayings for King Lemuel

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

Study Proverbs 31