PROVERBS XXXI-THE WORDS OF LEMUEL Chapter 31 1099 1 Lemuel's lesson of chastity and temperance. 6 The afflicted are to be comforted and defended. and properties of a good wife. 10 The praise HE words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2 What, my son ? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. 10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.1 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. From here to the end is an alphabetical or acrostic poem. 1100 PROVERBS XXXI-THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. all. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. The Thorny Path BY PIETRO STACHIEWICZ, A NOTED CONTEMPORARY POLISH ARTIST. + "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."—Psalm 73, 26. T RULY God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. "But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped." So opens the third section of the psalter, telling of the struggle of those who seek after God, yet well nigh fail because of the difficulty of the path, because of the temptations which beset them when they see the earthly pleasure and prosperity sometimes enjoyed by the wicked, while goodness still continues in misery. "For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning." The outcry reaches a climax of grief and weakness. "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me." The "thorny path" seems all too torturing. Then comes the sudden joy of having seen and understood the meaning of God's leading. The wicked shall perish in the end, and the sorrows of the righteous be forgotten, "as a dream when one awaketh." |