  THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON
  -----------------------
  
  31:1  The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

  31:2  What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of 
        my vows?

  31:3  Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which 
        destroyeth kings.

  31:4  [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink 
        wine; nor for princes strong drink:

  31:5  Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of 
        any of the afflicted.

  31:6  Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine 
        unto those that be of heavy hearts.

  31:7  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery 
        no more.

  31:8  Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are 
        appointed to destruction.

  31:9  Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the 
        poor and needy.

  31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above 
         rubies.

  31:11  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he 
         shall have no need of spoil.

  31:12  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

  31:13  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

  31:14  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

  31:15  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her 
         household, and a portion to her maidens.

  31:16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her 
         hands she planteth a vineyard.

  31:17  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

  31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth 
         not out by night.

  31:19  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the 
         distaff.

  31:20  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth 
         her hands to the needy.

  31:21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her 
         household [are] clothed with scarlet.

  31:22  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] 
         silk and purple.

  31:23  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the 
         elders of the land.

  31:24  She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth 
         girdles unto the merchant.

  31:25  Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice 
         in time to come.

  31:26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] 
         the law of kindness.

  31:27  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not 
         the bread of idleness.

  31:28  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband 
         [also], and he praiseth her.

  31:29  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

  31:30  Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman 
         [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

  31:31  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works 
         praise her in the gates.




