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Proverbs 31 - Good News Bible bible

Proverbs 31

¹These are the solemn words which King Lemuel's mother said to him:

²"You are my own dear son, the answer to my prayers. What shall I tell you?

³Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings.

⁴Listen, Lemuel. Kings should not drink wine or have a craving for alcohol.

⁵When they drink, they forget the laws and ignore the rights of people in need.

⁶Alcohol is for people who are dying, for those who are in misery.

⁷Let them drink and forget their poverty and unhappiness.

⁸"Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless.

⁹Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and needy."

¹⁰How hard it is to find a capable wife! She is worth far more than jewels!

¹¹Her husband puts his confidence in her, and he will never be poor.

¹²As long as she lives, she does him good and never harm.

¹³She keeps herself busy making wool and linen cloth.

¹⁴She brings home food from out-of-the-way places, as merchant ships do.

¹⁵She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and to tell her servant women what to do.

¹⁶She looks at land and buys it, and with money she has earned she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷She is a hard worker, strong and industrious.

¹⁸She knows the value of everything she makes, and works late into the night.

¹⁹She spins her own thread and weaves her own cloth.

²⁰She is generous to the poor and needy.

²¹She doesn't worry when it snows, because her family has warm clothing.

²²She makes bedspreads and wears clothes of fine purple linen.

²³Her husband is well known, one of the leading citizens.

²⁴She makes clothes and belts, and sells them to merchants.

²⁵She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future.

²⁶She speaks with a gentle wisdom.

²⁷She is always busy and looks after her family's needs.

²⁸Her children show their appreciation, and her husband praises her.

²⁹He says, "Many women are good wives, but you are the best of them all."

³⁰Charm is deceptive and beauty disappears, but a woman who honors the LORD should be praised.

³¹Give her credit for all she does. She deserves the respect of everyone.