Proverbs 31:1-12 ▼

1 These are the words of King Lemuel (for God)—the burden (burden) that his mother taught him:

2 What shall I say (What), O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel (for God), it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.