The words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2 What, my [a]son? What, son of my womb? What [shall I advise you], son of my vows anddedication to God?
3 Give not your strength to [loose] women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin anddestroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty and [seriously] remember his want and misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless;
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.
10 A capable, intelligent, and [b]virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.
12 She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.
13 She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].
14 She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far [country].
15 She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.
16 She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.
18 She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].
19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].
21 She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].
23 Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!
26 She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].
27 She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],
29 [c]Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.
30 Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!
Footnotes

Proverbs 31:2 It is important to the purpose of this invaluable chapter that one realizes that it is first of all intended for young men. It is the mother’s God-given task to provide youth with this information directly from its inspired source, letting them grow up with it in their consciousness.

1 ¶ A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.
Do not keep silent, O God;
Do not hold Your peace or be still, O God.
2 For behold, Your enemies are in tumult,
And those who hate You have raised their heads [in hatred of You].
3 They concoct crafty schemes against Your people,
And conspire together against Your hidden and precious ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation;
Let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
5 For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant—
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Of Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot [the Ammonites and the Moabites] and have been an arm [of strength] to them. Selah.
9 ¶ Deal with them as [You did]with Midian,
As with Sisera and Jabin at the brook of Kishon,
10 Who were destroyed at En-dor,
Who became like dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb
And all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us possess for ourselves
The pastures of God.”
13 ¶ O my God, make them like fnwhirling dust,
Like chaff before the wind [worthless and without substance].
14 Like fire consumes the forest,
And like the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest
And terrify them with [the violence of] Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame and disgrace,
That they may [persistently]seek Your name, O LORD.
17 Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be humiliated and perish,
18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands andcoastlands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him [as at Sinai];
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries on all sides.
4 His lightnings have illuminated the world;
The earth has seen and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory and brilliance.
7 ¶ Let all those be [deeply]ashamed who serve carved images,
Who boast in idols.
Worship Him, all you gods!
8 Zion heard this and was glad,
And the daughters (cities) of Judah rejoiced [in relief]
Because of Your judgments, O LORD.
9 For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.
10 ¶ You who love the LORD, hate evil;
He protects the souls of His godly ones (believers),
He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown [like seed]for the righteous and illuminates their path,
And [irrepressible] joy [is spread] for the upright in heart [who delight in His favor and protection].
12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones [those whose moral and spiritual integrity places them in right standing with God],
And praise and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

I will behave wisely andfollow the way of integrity.
When will You come to me?
I will walk in my house in integrity and with a blameless heart.
3 I will set no worthless orwicked thing before my eyes.
I hate the practice of those who fall away [from the right path];
It will not grasp hold of me.
4 A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will not tolerate evil.
5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will silence;
The one who has a haughty look and a proud (arrogant) heart I will not tolerate.
6 ¶ My eyes will be on the faithful (honorable) of the land, that they may dwell with me;
He who walks blamelessly is the one who will minister to and serve me.
7 He who practices deceit will not dwell in my house;
He who tells lies and half-truths will not continue [to remain] in my presence.
8 Morning after morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land,
That I may cut off from the city of the LORD all those who do evil.