1 T he words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

¶ The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother taught him.

2 W hat, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows and dedication to God?

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3 G ive not your strength to women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings.

Do not give thy strength nor thy ways unto the women who destroy kings.

4 I t is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor is beer for princes

5 L est they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.

lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 G ive strong drink to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart.

Give beer unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that have heavy hearts.

7 L et him drink and forget his poverty and remember his want and misery no more.

They drink and forget their need and remember their misery no more.

8 O pen your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless;

Open thy mouth for those who cannot speak in the judgment of all the sons of death.

9 O pen your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and destitute.

10 A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

¶ Aleph Who can find a valiant woman? for her price is far above precious stones.

11 T he heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of gain or need of spoil.

Beth The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 S he comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

Gimel She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 S he seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands.

Daleth She sought wool and flax and worked willingly with her hands.

14 S he is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far.

He She was like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar.

15 S he rises while it is yet night and gets food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

Vau She rose up even at night and gave food to her family and a portion to her maidens.

16 S he considers a field before she buys or accepts it; with her savings she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

Zain She considered the inheritance and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.

17 S he girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong and firm.

Cheth She girded her loins with strength and strengthened her arms.

18 S he tastes and sees that her gain from work is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night.

Teth She perceived that her merchandise was good; her fire did not go out by night.

19 S he lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Jod She laid her hands to the spindle, and her hands held the distaff.

20 S he opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy.

Caph She stretched out her hand to the poor; yea, she reached forth her hands to the destitute.

21 S he fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

Lamed She shall not be afraid of the snow for her family, for all her family is clothed with double garments.

22 S he makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple.

Mem She makes herself tapestries; her clothing is of fine linen and purple.

23 H er husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

Nun Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 S he makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles.

Samech She made fine linen and sold it and delivered girdles unto the merchant.

25 S trength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future!

Ain Strength and glory is her clothing, and she shall laugh in the last day.

26 S he opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Pe She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the law of mercy is upon her tongue.

27 S he looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

Tzaddi She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat bread in idleness.

28 H er children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her,,

Koph Her sons rose up and called her blessed; her husband also, and he praised her.

29 M any daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well, but you excel them all.

Resh Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou dost excel them all.

30 C harm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain, but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

Schin Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but the woman that fears the LORD shall be praised.

31 G ive her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates!

Tau Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.