Proverbs 31 - American Standard Version 2015 American Standard Version 2015
Proverbs 31

¹ The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.\par

² What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?\par\tab And what, O son of my vows?

³ Give not thy strength unto women,\par\tab Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;\par\tab Nor for princes {\i to say}, Where is strong drink?

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law,\par\tab And pervert the justice {\i due} to any that is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,\par\tab And wine unto the bitter in soul:

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty,\par\tab And remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb,\par\tab In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously,\par\tab And minister justice to the poor and needy.\par

¹⁰ A worthy woman who can find?\par\tab For her price is far above rubies.

¹¹ The heart of her husband trusteth in her,\par\tab And he shall have no lack of gain.

¹² She doeth him good and not evil\par\tab All the days of her life.

¹³ She seeketh wool and flax,\par\tab And worketh willingly with her hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant-ships;\par\tab She bringeth her bread from afar.

¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night,\par\tab And giveth food to her household,\par\tab And their task to her maidens.

¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it;\par\tab With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength,\par\tab And maketh strong her arms.

¹⁸ She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable;\par\tab Her lamp goeth not out by night.

¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the distaff,\par\tab And her hands hold the spindle.

²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;\par\tab Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household;\par\tab For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

²² She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry;\par\tab Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is known in the gates,\par\tab When he sitteth among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She maketh linen garments and selleth them,\par\tab And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing;\par\tab And she laugheth at the time to come.

²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom;\par\tab And the law of kindness is on her tongue.

²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household,\par\tab And eateth not the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children rise up, and call her blessed;\par\tab Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:

²⁹ Many daughters have done worthily,\par\tab But thou excellest them all.

³⁰ Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;\par\tab {\i But} a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.

³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands;\par\tab And let her works praise her in the gates.\par