Proverbs 31:1-12 ▼

1 THE words of Moael, a king and prophet, which his mother taught him, saying,

2 Oh my son! Oh the son of my womb! Oh the son of my vows!

3 Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to the extravagance of kings.

4 Of kings, O Moael, be careful of kings who drink wine; and of princes who drink strong drink,

5 Lest you drink and forget the law and forsake the judgment of the afflicted.

6 Let strong drink be given to those who mourn, and wine to those who are of heavy heart,

7 That they may drink, and forget their sorrows, and remember their miseries no more.

8 Open your mouth with words of truth, and judge all the sons of the wicked.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a diligent woman? For her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, and her food supplies never diminish.

12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.