Chapter 31

Here are words of king Lamuel; here is revelation his mother made known to him for his instruction.

What word have I for my son, the child of my own womb, the fulfilment of my prayers?

Wouldst thou give thyself up to the love of women, spend thy all on a king’s undoing?

Wine was never made for kings, Lamuel, never for kings; carouse befits ill thy council-chamber.

Not for them to drink deep, and forget the claims of right, and misjudge the plea of the friendless.

Strong drink for the mourner, wine for the afflicted heart;

deep let them drink, and forget their need, and think of their misery no more.

Do thou, meanwhile, give thy voice for dumb pleader and for doomed prisoner;

ever let that voice of thine pronounce true sentence, giving redress to the friendless and the poor.

A man who has found a vigorous wife has found a rare treasure, brought from distant shores.

B ound to her in loving confidence, he will have no need of spoil.

C ontent, not sorrow, she will bring him as long as life lasts.

D oes she not busy herself with wool and thread, plying her hands with ready skill?

E ver she steers her course like some merchant ship, bringing provision from far away.

F rom early dawn she is up, assigning food to the household, so that each waiting-woman has her share.

G round must be examined, and bought, and planted out as a vineyard, with the earnings of her toil.

H ow briskly she girds herself to the task, how tireless are her arms!

I ndustry, she knows, is well rewarded, and all night long her lamp does not go out.

J ealously she sets her hands to work, her fingers clutch the spindle.

K indly is her welcome to the poor, her purse ever open to those in need.

L et the snow lie cold if it will, she has no fears for her household; no servant of hers but is warmly clad.

M ade by her own hands was the coverlet on her bed, the clothes of lawn and purple that she wears.

N one so honoured at the city gate as that husband of hers, when he sits in council with the elders of the land.

O ften she will sell linen of her own weaving, or make a girdle for the travelling merchant to buy.

P rotected by her own industry and good repute, she greets the morrow with a smile.

R ipe wisdom governs her speech, but it is kindly instruction she gives.

S he keeps watch over all that goes on in her house, not content to go through life eating and sleeping.

T hat is why her children are the first to call her blessed, her husband is loud in her praise:

U nrivalled art thou among all the women that have enriched their homes.

V ain are the winning ways, beauty is a snare; it is the woman who fears the Lord that will achieve renown.

Work such as hers claims its reward; let her life be spoken of with praise at the city gates.