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

Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that 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, son of my womb? And what, 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.

Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of 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,

Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

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

Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

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

Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

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

He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

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

Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

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

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

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.

A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies her price.

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.

The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

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

She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

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

She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh her hands.

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

She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

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

Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

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

She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

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

She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen 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.

She hath perceived when her merchandise good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

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

Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

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

Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

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

She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed scarlet.

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

Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple her clothing.

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

Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

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

Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

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

Strength and honour her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

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

Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness on 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.

She watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

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

Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

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

`Many the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above 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!

The grace false, and the beauty vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

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

Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!