Geneva1599 - Proverbs - 31

31:1  THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.

31:2  What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!

31:3  Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.

31:4  It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,

31:5  Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.

31:6  Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.

31:7  Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.

31:8  Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.

31:9  Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.

31:10  Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.

31:11  The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.

31:12  She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.

31:13  She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.

31:14  She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.

31:15  And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.

31:16  She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.

31:17  She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.

31:18  She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.

31:19  She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.

31:20  She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.

31:21  She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.

31:22  She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.

31:23  Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.

31:24  She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.

31:25  Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.

31:26  She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.

31:27  She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.

31:28  Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,

31:29  Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.

31:30  Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.

31:31  Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.