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31:1  The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, the instruction his mother taught him:
31:2  What are you doing, my son! what are you doing, son of my womb; what are you doing, son of my vows!
31:3  Do not give your vigor to women, or your strength to those who ruin kings.
31:4  It is not for kings, Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes,
31:5  Lest in drinking they forget what has been decreed, and violate the rights of any who are in need.
31:6  Give strong drink to anyone who is perishing, and wine to the embittered;
31:7  When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their troubles.
31:8  Open your mouth in behalf of the mute, and for the rights of the destitute;
31:9  Open your mouth, judge justly, defend the needy and the poor!
31:10  Who can find a woman of worth? Far beyond jewels is her value.
31:11  Her husband trusts her judgment; he does not lack income.
31:12  She brings him profit, not loss, all the days of her life.
31:13  She seeks out wool and flax and weaves with skillful hands.
31:14  Like a merchant fleet, she secures her provisions from afar.
31:15  She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household, a portion to her maidservants.
31:16  She picks out a field and acquires it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
31:17  She girds herself with strength; she exerts her arms with vigor.
31:18  She enjoys the profit from her dealings; her lamp is never extinguished at night.
31:19  She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
31:20  She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.
31:21  She is not concerned for her household when it snows— all her charges are doubly clothed.
31:22  She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.
31:23  Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.
31:24  She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.
31:25  She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come.
31:26  She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue.
31:27  She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
31:28  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, too, praises her:
31:29  “Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all.”
31:30  Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31:31  Acclaim her for the work of her hands, and let her deeds praise her at the city gates.