Proverbs 31

²Listen, my son! You are my own dear child. I prayed for you and promised you to God.

³Do not waste your strength on the wrong things. Some choices have destroyed even kings.

⁴Kings should not drink wine. Princes should not drink strong drink. Leaders must stay clear-headed.

⁵A drunk ruler forgets God's law. He gives unfair judgments to people who are suffering.

⁶Strong drink may bring a little comfort to those who are dying. Wine may ease the pain of deep sadness.

⁷Let the suffering person find some relief from pain. Let them have a moment of forgetting their troubles.

⁸Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Help those who are in danger.

⁹Speak up. Be fair and right in your judgments. Stand up for the poor and those who need help.

¹⁰A woman of excellent character is very hard to find. She is worth more than the rarest gems.

¹¹Her husband trusts her completely. He does not need to worry. She is enough for him.

¹²Every day of her life, she chooses to do good to her husband. She never turns against him.

¹³She finds the best wool and linen. She works hard with her hands, and she does it gladly.

¹⁴She is like a ship that travels far. She brings the best food home for her family.

¹⁵She wakes up while it is still dark. She makes food for her family. She cares for everyone in her home.

¹⁶She looks carefully at a field and decides to buy it. She plants a vineyard with the money she has earned.

¹⁷She makes herself strong. She is ready to work hard every day.

¹⁸She knows her work is good and valuable. She works late into the night if her family needs her.

¹⁹She uses her hands to spin thread. She makes cloth and clothing for her family.

²⁰She reaches out to help poor people. She gives to those who are in need.

²¹She is not afraid when winter comes. Her family is warm and well-clothed. She prepared in advance.

²²She makes beautiful bed coverings. She wears fine and dignified clothing herself.

²³Her husband is respected in the city. He sits with the leaders of the land. Her good name helps him.

²⁴She makes high-quality linen cloth and sells it. She sells fine belts to traders in the city.

²⁵Strength and honour are what she is known for. She is not afraid of the future.

²⁶When she speaks, she speaks with wisdom. Her words are always kind.

²⁷She watches over everything happening in her home. She never wastes time doing nothing.

²⁸Her children say she is blessed and wonderful. Her husband praises her too.

²⁹Many women have done excellent and good things. But you are better than all of them.

³⁰Good looks and charm can be deceiving. They do not last. But a woman who fears the LORD will always be praised.

³¹Let her receive what her hard work has produced. Let her good works speak for her in public.