# Proverbs 31 (New King James Version)
The Words of King Lemuel's Mother

##### Chapter 31
###### 1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

###### 2 What, my son?  
And what, son of my womb?  
And what, son of my vows?  

###### 3 Do not give your strength to women,  
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

###### 4 _It is_ not for kings, O Lemuel,  
_It is_ not for kings to drink wine,  
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;  

###### 5 Lest they drink and forget the law,  
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.  

###### 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,  
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.  

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

###### 8 Open your mouth for the speechless,  
In the cause of all _who are_ appointed to die.  

###### 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,  
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.The Virtuous Wife

###### 10 Who can find a virtuous wife?  
For her worth _is_ far above rubies.  

###### 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;  
So he will have no lack of gain.  

###### 12 She does him good and not evil  
All the days of her life.  

###### 13 She seeks wool and flax,  
And willingly works with her hands.  

###### 14 She is like the merchant ships,  
She brings her food from afar.  

###### 15 She also rises while it is yet night,  
And provides food for her household,  
And a portion for her maidservants.  

###### 16 She considers a field and buys it;  
From her profits she plants a vineyard.  

###### 17 She girds herself with strength,  
And strengthens her arms.  

###### 18 She perceives that her merchandise _is_ good,  
And her lamp does not go out by night.  

###### 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,  
And her hand holds the spindle.  

###### 20 She extends her hand to the poor,  
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.  

###### 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,  
For all her household _is_ clothed with scarlet.  

###### 22 She makes tapestry 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.  

###### 24 She makes linen garments and sells _them,_  
And supplies sashes for the merchants.  

###### 25 Strength and honor _are_ her clothing;  
She shall rejoice in time to come.  

###### 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,  
And on her tongue _is_ the law of kindness.  

###### 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 well,  
But you excel them all."  

###### 30 Charm _is_ deceitful and beauty _is_ passing,  
But a woman _who_ fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  

###### 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,  
And let her own works praise her in the gates.