IV.
The word of King Lemuel
31:1-31
Prov. 31
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31:1
The words of King Lemuel. The oracle which his mother taught him.
Prov. 31
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31:2
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
Prov. 31
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Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Prov. 31
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It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
Nor for princes
to say, Where is strong drink?
Prov. 31
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Lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Prov. 31
:6
31:6
Give strong drink
rather to one who is perishing,
And wine to the bitter in soul;
Prov. 31
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Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
Prov. 31
:8
31:8
Open your mouth for the dumb,
And for the rights of all those who are passing away.
Prov. 31
:9
31:9
Open your mouth; judge righteously,
And minister justice to the poor and needy.
Prov. 31
:10
31:10
Who can find a
aworthy woman?
For her price is far above corals.
Prov. 31
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31:11
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
Prov. 31
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31:12
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
Prov. 31
:13
31:13
She seeks wool and flax,
And delights to work with her hands.
Prov. 31
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She is like the merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
Prov. 31
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She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household,
And
their task to her
serving girls.
Prov. 31
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31:16
She considers a field and buys it;
With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Prov. 31
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31:17
She girds her loins with strength
And makes strong her arms.
Prov. 31
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She samples her merchandise
to be sure it is good;
Her lamp does not go out by night.
Prov. 31
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31:19
She lays her hands to the distaff,
And her hands hold on to the spindle.
Prov. 31
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She astretches out her hand to the afflicted,
And she reaches out her hands to the needy.
Prov. 31
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She does not fear for her household when it snows,
For all her household are clothed with
ascarlet.
Prov. 31
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She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and
apurple.
Prov. 31
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Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the
aelders of the land.
Prov. 31
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31:24
She makes linen garments and sells them
And delivers girdles to the merchant.
Prov. 31
:25
31:25
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she happily looks forward to the time to come.
Prov. 31
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31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And the
1law of kindness is on her tongue.
Prov. 31
:27
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She watches closely over the ways of her household
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Prov. 31
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Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband
also, and he praises her,
saying:
Prov. 31
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Many daughters have done worthily,
But you surpass them all.
Prov. 31
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Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
But a woman who fears Jehovah, she will be praised.
Prov. 31
:31
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Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
