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31:1  These are the sayings that King Lemuel of Massa was taught by his mother.
31:2  My son Lemuel, you were born in answer to my prayers, so listen carefully.
31:3  Don't waste your life chasing after women! This has ruined many kings.
31:4  Kings and leaders should not get drunk or even want to drink.
31:5  Drinking makes you forget your responsibilities, and you mistreat the poor.
31:6  Beer and wine are only for the dying or for those who have lost all hope.
31:7  Let them drink and forget how poor and miserable they feel.
31:8  But you must defend those who are helpless and have no hope.
31:9  Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless.
31:10  A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find!
31:11  Her husband depends on her, and she never lets him down.
31:12  She is good to him every day of her life,
31:13  and with her own hands she gladly makes clothes.
31:14  She is like a sailing ship that brings food from across the sea.
31:15  She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and for her servants.
31:16  She knows how to buy land and how to plant a vineyard,
31:17  and she always works hard.
31:18  She knows when to buy or sell, and she stays busy until late at night.
31:19  She spins her own cloth,
31:20  and she helps the poor and the needy.
31:21  Her family has warm clothing, and so she doesn't worry when it snows.
31:22  She does her own sewing, and everything she wears is beautiful.
31:23  Her husband is a well-known and respected leader in the city.
31:24  She makes clothes to sell to the shop owners.
31:25  She is strong and graceful, as well as cheerful about the future.
31:26  Her words are sensible, and her advice is thoughtful.
31:27  She takes good care of her family and is never lazy.
31:28  Her children praise her, and with great pride her husband says,
31:29  “There are many good women, but you are the best!”
31:30  Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the Lord deserves to be praised.
31:31  Show her respect— praise her in public for what she has done.