Proverbs Chapter 31 / BBE

The Bible in Basic English
Proverbs, Chapter 31

   1: The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
   2: What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
   3: Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
   4: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
   5: For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
   6: Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
   7: Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
   8: Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
   9: Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
   10: Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
   11: The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
   12: She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
   13: She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
   14: She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
   15: She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
   16: After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
   17: She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
   18: She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
   19: She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
   20: Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
   21: She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
   22: She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
   23: Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
   24: She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
   25: Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
   26: Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
   27: She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
   28: Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
   29: Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
   30: Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
   31: Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.

http://bible.christiansunite.com/bibles.shtml