Proverbs 31

The Voice

² Mother: What shall I say to you, my son? What wisdom can I impart, child of my womb?
        What insight can I share, son of my vows?
³     Do not waste your strength on women
        or invest yourself in women who would destroy even kings.
⁴     Take care, my son, O Lemuel.
        Kings should not drink too much wine
        or rulers should not crave strong drink;
⁵     For if they do, they will become drunk and forget the decree they just made
        and alter the course of justice for all the poor and afflicted.
⁶     Rather, give liquor to one who is dying,
        and offer wine to those struggling with life’s harsh realities.
⁷     Let such a one drink and forget what he is missing;
        then perhaps he won’t remember his sorrows anymore.
⁸     Speak out on behalf of those who have no voice,
        and defend all those who have been passed over.
⁹     Open your mouth, judge fairly,
        and stand up for the rights of the afflicted and the poor.

¹⁰ Who can find a truly excellent woman? One who is superior in all that she is and all that she does?
    Her worth far exceeds that of rubies and expensive jewelry.
¹¹ She inspires trust, and her husband’s heart is safe with her,
    and because of her, he has every good thing.
¹² Every day of her life she does what is best for him,
    never anything harmful or hurtful.
¹³ Delight attends her work and guides her fingers
    as she selects the finest wool and flax for spinning.
¹⁴ She moves through the market like merchant ships
    that dock here and there in distant ports,
    finally arriving home with food she’s carried from afar.
¹⁵ She rises from bed early, in the still of night,
    carefully preparing food for her family
    and providing a portion to her servants.
¹⁶ She has a plan. She considers some land and buys it;
    then with her earnings, she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She wraps herself in strength, carries herself with confidence,
    and works hard, strengthening her arms for the task at hand.
¹⁸ She tastes success and knows it is good,
    and under lamplight she works deep into the night.
¹⁹ Her hands skillfully place the unspun flax and wool on the distaff,
    and her fingers twist the spindle until thread forms.
²⁰ She reaches out to the poor
    and extends mercy to those in need.
²¹ She is not worried about the cold or snow for her family,
    for she has clothed them all in warm, crimson coats.
²² She makes her own bed linens
    and clothes herself in purple and fine cloth.
²³ Everyone recognizes her husband in the public square,
    and no one fails to respect him as he takes his place of leadership in the community.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them in the market,
    and she supplies belts for tradesmen to carry across the sea.
²⁵ Clothed in strength and dignity, with nothing to fear,
    she smiles when she thinks about the future.
²⁶ She conducts her conversations with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is ever her concern.
²⁷ She directs the activities of her household,
    and never does she indulge in laziness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and bless her.
    Her husband, too, joins in the praise, saying:
²⁹ “There are some—indeed many—women who do well in every way,
    but of all of them only you are truly excellent.”
³⁰ Charm can be deceptive and physical beauty will not last,
    but a woman who reveres the Eternal should be praised above all others.
³¹ Celebrate all she has achieved.
    Let all her accomplishments publicly praise her.^[a]