1 T he words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:

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

2 W hat, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

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

3 D o not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys 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 F or they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all 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 perishing, And wine to him whose life is bitter.

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 trouble no more.

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

8 O pen your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate.

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 defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. Description of a Worthy Woman

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

10 A n excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

¶ 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, And he will have no lack of gain.

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

12 S he does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

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

13 S he looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.

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

14 S he is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.

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

15 S he rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.

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 and buys it; From her earnings she plants a 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.

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

18 S he senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.

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

19 S he stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.

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

20 S he extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her 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 is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with 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 coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and 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 linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

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

25 S trength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.

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

26 S he opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

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

27 S he looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

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

28 H er children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

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

29 “ Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”

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

30 C harm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who 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 the product of her hands, And let her 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.