Admonitions to a King

311 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him. 2 “Oh, my son!
Oh, son of my womb!
Oh, son of my vows! 3 Don’t give your strength to women,
nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel;
it is not for kings to drink wine;
nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’ 5 lest they drink, and forget the law,
and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish;
and wine to the bitter in soul: 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the mute,
in the cause of all who are left desolate. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

Praise of a Good Woman

10 [1]Who can find a worthy woman?
For her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her.
He shall have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works eagerly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships.
She brings her bread from afar. 15 She rises also while it is yet night,
gives food to her household,
and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field, and buys it.
With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds her waist with strength,
and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp doesn’t go out by night. 19 She lays her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her arms to the poor;
yes, she extends her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household;
for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and delivers sashes to the merchant. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing.
She laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom.
Faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things,
but you excel them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates!

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son, don’t forget my teaching;
but let your heart keep my commandments: 2 for length of days, and years of life,
and peace, will they add to you. 3 Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor,
and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor Yahweh with your substance,
with the first fruits of all your increase: 10 so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine. 11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline,
neither be weary of his reproof: 12 for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves;
even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding. 14 For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her return is better than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her. 19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies drop down the dew.

21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 so they will be life to your soul,
and grace for your neck. 23 Then you shall walk in your way securely.
Your foot won’t stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: 26 for Yahweh will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being taken.

27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it. 28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
tomorrow I will give it to you,”
when you have it by you. 29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
seeing he dwells securely by you. 30 Don’t strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm. 31 Don’t envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways. 32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,
but his friendship is with the upright. 33 Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the righteous. 34 Surely he mocks the mockers,
but he gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the promotion of fools.