Proverbs 31

¹These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

²What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

³Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

⁵lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

⁶Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

⁹Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.

¹²She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.

¹³She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

¹⁴She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.