31:1 The wordes of King Lemuel, the prophecie that his mother taught him. 31:2 What, my sonne! and what, the sonne of my wombe! and what, the sonne of my vowes! 31:3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes to that which destroyeth kings. 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drinke wine, nor for Princes, strong drinke: 31:5 Lest they drinke, and forget the Law, and peruert the iudgement of any of the afflicted. 31:6 Giue strong drinke vnto him that is ready to perish, and wine vnto those that be of heauie hearts. 31:7 Let him drinke, and forget his pouertie, and remember his misery no more. 31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumbe in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 31:9 Open thy mouth, iudge righteously, and plead the cause of the poore and needy. 31:10 Who can finde a vertuous woman for her price is farre aboue Rubies. 31:11 The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, so that he shall haue no need of spoile. 31:12 She will doe him good, and not euill, all the dayes of her life. 31:13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and worketh willingly with her hands. 31:14 She is like the merchants ships, she bringeth her food from afarre. 31:15 Shee riseth also while it is yet night, and giueth meate to her household, and a portion to her maydens. 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her handes she planteth a Uineyard. 31:17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes. 31:18 She perceiueth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night. 31:19 She layeth her handes to the spindle, and her handes hold the distaffe. 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, yea she reacheth foorth her handes to the needy. 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her houshold: for all her houshold are cloathed with scarlet. 31:22 She maketh herselfe couerings of tapestrie; her cloathing is silke and purple. 31:23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth among the Elders of the land. 31:24 She maketh fine linnen, and selleth it, and deliuereth girdles vnto the merchant. 31:25 Strength and honour are her cloathing; and she shall reioyce in time to come. 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisedome; and in her tongue is the law of kindnesse. 31:27 She looketh well to the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of idlenesse. 31:28 Her children arise vp, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 31:29 Many daughters haue done vertuously, but thou excellest them all. 31:30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vaine: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shalbe praised. 31:31 Giue her of the fruit of her hands, and let her owne workes praise her in the gates.