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Proverbs 31 (AMP)

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¹ THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him: ² What, my son? What, son of my womb? What , son of my vows and dedication to God? ³ Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy 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 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 remember his want and misery no more. ⁸ Open your mouth for the dumb , 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 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 gain or need of 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 . ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far . ¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night and gets food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. ¹⁶ She considers a field before she buys or accepts it ; with her savings she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. ¹⁷ She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong and firm. ¹⁸ She tastes and sees that her gain from work is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night . 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 . 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 . ²³ Her husband is known in the 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 . ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future ! ²⁶ She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness . 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, , ²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well , but you excel them all. ³⁰ Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain , 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 !