31 These are the wise sayings of King Lemuel of Massa,[a]taught to him at his mother’s knee:
2 O my son, whom I have dedicated to the Lord, 3 do not spend your time with women—the royal pathway to destruction.
4 And it is not for kings, O Lemuel, to drink wine and whiskey. 5 For if they drink, they may forget their duties and be unable to give justice to those who are oppressed. 6-7 Hard liquor is for sick men at the brink of death, and wine for those in deep depression. Let them drink to forget their poverty and misery.
8 You should defend those who cannot help themselves. 9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
10 If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will richly satisfy his needs. 12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life. 13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She buys imported foods brought by ship from distant ports. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plans the day’s work for her servant girls. 16 She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her own hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic, a hard worker, 18 and watches for bargains. She works far into the night!
2 O my son, whom I have dedicated to the Lord, 3 do not spend your time with women—the royal pathway to destruction.
4 And it is not for kings, O Lemuel, to drink wine and whiskey. 5 For if they drink, they may forget their duties and be unable to give justice to those who are oppressed. 6-7 Hard liquor is for sick men at the brink of death, and wine for those in deep depression. Let them drink to forget their poverty and misery.
8 You should defend those who cannot help themselves. 9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
10 If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will richly satisfy his needs. 12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life. 13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She buys imported foods brought by ship from distant ports. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plans the day’s work for her servant girls. 16 She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her own hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic, a hard worker, 18 and watches for bargains. She works far into the night!