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

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that 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.

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth 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 for princes strong drink:

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 strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 L et him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

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

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

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 needy.

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

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 T he heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust 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.

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.

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

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

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth 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.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 S he considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

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

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

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

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

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

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 S he extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 S he is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 S he makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

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

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 S he makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

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

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

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

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

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

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

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

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

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

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 C harm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 G ive her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

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