Old Testament · Poetry and wisdom

Proverbs chapter 31

The words of —a his mother taught him:What can I say, my son? What can I say, son of my womb? What can I say, ?Don’t give your to women, or your energy to .It’s not for kings, Lemuel—it’s not for kings to drink , and it’s not for rulers to crave .Otherwise they’ll drink and forget , and of all who are suffering.Give beer to , and wine to those whose lives are bitter.Let them drink and forget their poverty, and stop thinking about their misery.Speak up for —for the rights of all who are .Speak up, , and defend the rights of and those in need.A —who can find one? She’s worth far more than .Her husband her completely, and he never lacks .She brings him and not harm every day of her life.She finds wool and linen and .She’s like the —she brings her food from far away.She gets up while it’s still dark and provides food for her household, with set aside for her .She a field and buys it; from she plants a vineyard.She and makes her arms powerful.She —.She puts her hands to the , and her fingers grip the .She to and reaches out her arms to .She’s not afraid of the for her household, because everyone in her home is dressed in .She makes her own ; her clothing is and .Her husband is well-known at the , where he sits among the .She makes and sells them; she supplies belts to the . and are what she wears, and she .She speaks with , and is on her tongue.She over her household and never eats the .Her children stand up and ; her husband does the same and praises her:“Many women have done , but you surpass them all.” is deceptive and , but a woman who —she will be praised.Give her , and .