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31:1  These are the words of King Lemuel, the message his mother taught him:
31:2  “My son, I gave birth to you. You are the son I prayed for.
31:3  Don’t waste your strength on women or your time on those who ruin kings.
31:4  “Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel, and rulers should not desire beer.
31:5  If they drink, they might forget the law and keep the needy from getting their rights.
31:6  Give beer to people who are dying and wine to those who are sad.
31:7  Let them drink and forget their need and remember their misery no more.
31:8  “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; defend the rights of all those who have nothing.
31:9  Speak up and judge fairly, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
31:10  It is hard to find a good wife, because she is worth more than rubies.
31:11  Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs.
31:12  She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives.
31:13  She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands.
31:14  She is like a trader’s ship, bringing food from far away.
31:15  She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls.
31:16  She inspects a field and buys it. With money she earned, she plants a vineyard.
31:17  She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong.
31:18  She knows that what she makes is good. Her lamp burns late into the night.
31:19  She makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth.
31:20  She welcomes the poor and helps the needy.
31:21  She does not worry about her family when it snows, because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm.
31:22  She makes coverings for herself; her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.
31:23  Her husband is known at the city meetings, where he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.
31:24  She makes linen clothes and sells them and provides belts to the merchants.
31:25  She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with joy.
31:26  She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind.
31:27  She watches over her family and never wastes her time.
31:28  Her children speak well of her. Her husband also praises her,
31:29  saying, “There are many fine women, but you are better than all of them.”
31:30  Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
31:31  Give her the reward she has earned; she should be praised in public for what she has done.