65 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
65 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
# 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.
|
|
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. |