Proverbs 31:1-12 ▼

1 My words have been spoken by God - the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.

2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?

3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.

4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.

6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:

7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.

8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.

9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.

12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.