Proverbs 31

The Oracle of King Lemuel

¹The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle

²What, my son? And what, my son in my womb?

³Do not give your strength to the women,

⁴It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;

⁵Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,

⁶Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

⁷He will drink and forget his poverty,

⁸Open your mouth for the mute,

⁹Open your mouth, judge righteousness,

An Excellent WomanProv 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem

¹⁰A woman of excellence, who will find?[#Or “wife”; #Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”]

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,[#Or “lord”]

¹²She does him good, but not harm

¹³She seeks wool and flax,

¹⁴She is like the ships of a merchant;

¹⁵And she arises while it is still night,

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it,

¹⁷She girds her waist in strength,

¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is good;

¹⁹Her hands she puts onto the distaff,[#A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning]

²⁰Her palm she opens to the poor,

²¹She does not fear for her house when it snows,

²²She makes for herself coverings;

²³Her husband is known at the gates,[#Or “lord”]

²⁴Linen garments she makes and sells,

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing,

²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom,

²⁷She looks after the ways of her household,

²⁸Her children rise and consider her happy,

²⁹“Many daughters have done excellence,[#Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”]

³⁰Charm is deceit and beauty is vain;[#Hebrew “The charm”; #Hebrew “the beauty”; #Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”]

³¹Give to her from the fruit of her hand,