Chapter Text
31:1 THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
31:2 What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
31:3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
31:4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
31:5 Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
31:6 Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
31:7 Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
31:8 Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
31:9 Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
31:10 Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
31:11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
31:12 She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
31:13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
31:14 She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
31:15 And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
31:16 She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
31:17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
31:18 She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
31:19 She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
31:21 She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
31:22 She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
31:23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
31:24 She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
31:25 Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
31:27 She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
31:28 Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
31:29 Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
31:30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
31:31 Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.