What King Lemuel’s Mother Taught Him
31 ¹ These are the sayings that King Lemuel of Massa was taught by his mother. ² My son Lemuel, you were born in answer to my prayers, so listen carefully. ³ Don’t waste your life chasing after women! This has ruined many kings. ⁴ Kings and leaders should not get drunk or even want to drink. ⁵ Drinking makes you forget your responsibilities, and you mistreat the poor. ⁶ Beer and wine are only for the dying or for those who have lost all hope. ⁷ Let them drink and forget how poor and miserable they feel. ⁸ But you must defend those who are helpless and have no hope. ⁹ Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless. In Praise of a Good Wife ¹⁰ A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find! ¹¹ Her husband depends on her, and she never lets him down. ¹² She is good to him every day of her life, ¹³ and with her own hands she gladly makes clothes. ¹⁴ She is like a sailing ship that brings food from across the sea. ¹⁵ She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and for her servants. ¹⁶ She knows how to buy land and how to plant a vineyard, ¹⁷ and she always works hard. ¹⁸ She knows when to buy or sell, and she stays busy until late at night. ¹⁹ She spins her own cloth, ²⁰ and she helps the poor and the needy. ²¹ Her family has warm clothing, and so she doesn’t worry when it snows. ²² She does her own sewing, and everything she wears is beautiful. ²³ Her husband is a well-known and respected leader in the city. ²⁴ She makes clothes to sell to the shop owners. ²⁵ She is strong and graceful, as well as cheerful about the future. ²⁶ Her words are sensible, and her advice is thoughtful. ²⁷ She takes good care of her family and is never lazy. ²⁸ Her children praise her, and with great pride her husband says, ²⁹ "There are many good women, but you are the best!" ³⁰ Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the Lord deserves to be praised. ³¹ Show her respect —  praise her in public for what she has done.