Proverbs 31:1-12 ▼

1 The words of king Lemuel: The prophecie which his mother taught him.

2 What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!

3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.

4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,

5 Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.

6 Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.

7 Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.

9 Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.

10 Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.

11 The heart of her husbande trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.

12 She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.