| Chapter 31 |
1 |
The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him. --
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2 |
What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows? --
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3 |
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings. --
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4 |
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth: --
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5 |
And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor. --
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6 |
Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind: --
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7 |
Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more. --
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8 |
Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass. --
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9 |
Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor. --
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10 |
Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her. --
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11 |
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. --
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12 |
She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. --
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13 |
She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. --
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14 |
She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar. --
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15 |
And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens. --
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16 |
She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. --
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17 |
She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. --
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18 |
She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. --
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19 |
She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. --
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20 |
She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor. --
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21 |
She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for dl her domestics are clothed with double garments. --
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22 |
She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering. --
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23 |
Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. --
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24 |
She made fine linen, and sold it, end delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. --
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25 |
Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day. --
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26 |
She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. --
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27 |
She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. --
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28 |
Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her. --
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29 |
Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all. --
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30 |
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. --
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31 |
Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates. --
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