Proverbs 31

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:	1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2 “What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?	2 What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?
3 Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.	3 Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
4 Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.	4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink;
5 And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.	5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.	6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;
7 Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.	7 let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.	8 Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all who are left desolate.
9 Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.	9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, maintain the rights of the poor and needy.
10 Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.	10 A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.	11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.	12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.	13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.	14 She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar.
15 And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.	15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens.
16 She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.	16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.	17 She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.	18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.	19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.	20 She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.	21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.	22 She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.	23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.	24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.	25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.	26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.	27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.	28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.	29 "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.	30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.	31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.