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31:1  These are the words that King Lemuel's mother said to him. It is an important message:
31:2  Be careful, my dear son. God answered my prayers when I gave birth to you. Please listen carefully!
31:3  Do not chase after women and lose your strength. Women like that have destroyed kings.
31:4  Listen, Lemuel. Kings should not drink lots of wine. They should not want strong drink.
31:5  When kings drink alcohol, they forget to obey the law. They take away justice for helpless people.
31:6  Give strong drink to people who are dying. Give wine to people who are very upset.
31:7  Then they can forget how poor they are, or how sad they are.
31:8  Speak on behalf of people who cannot speak for themselves. Help helpless people to receive justice.
31:9  Speak clearly to help them. Judge people in a way that is fair and right. Help poor and helpless people to receive justice.
31:10  How difficult it is to find a wife who is truly wise! She is worth much more than valuable jewels.
31:11  Her husband trusts her to help him. He will have everything that he needs.
31:12  She does good things for him every day of her life. She never tries to hurt him.
31:13  She is happy to work with her own hands to make clothes with wool and linen.
31:14  She brings special food from far away, like a ship that travels across the sea.
31:15  She gets up while it is still night and she prepares food for her family. She also gives some to her female servants.
31:16  She looks carefully at a field, and she decides to buy it. She uses her own money to plant a vineyard.
31:17  She is strong and she always works hard.
31:18  She knows how to make money as she buys and sells things. Even at night, she is still working.
31:19  She knows how to make cloth.
31:20  She gives money to poor and helpless people.
31:21  All her family have warm clothes to wear. She is not afraid when cold weather comes.
31:22  She makes beautiful cloths to cover the beds. Her own clothes are made with valuable linen and purple cloth.
31:23  People in the city respect her husband. He meets with the other leaders at the city's gate.
31:24  She uses linen to make clothes and she sells them. She makes belts to sell to the traders.
31:25  She shows her strength and people respect her. She is not afraid of what will happen in the future.
31:26  When she speaks, she says wise words. She is kind as she teaches people what is right.
31:27  She always works hard and she takes care of her family.
31:28  Her children all agree to thank her. Her husband also praises her.
31:29  He says, ‘Many women are wise and they work well, but you are better than all of them.’
31:30  A woman may seem to be beautiful, but that can deceive people. Her body will not be beautiful for ever. But a woman who respects the Lord with fear will receive honour.
31:31  Praise her for everything that she has done. Everyone in the city should know about her, and they should praise her as she deserves.