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

The words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

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

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

3 D o not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

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

4 I t is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,

5 L est they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

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

6 G ive strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

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

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

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

8 O pen your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

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

9 O pen your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. The Virtuous Wife

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.

10 W ho can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

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.

11 T he heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.

The 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.

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

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

13 S he seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.

She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands.

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

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

15 S he also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.

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

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

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

17 S he girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.

She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong and firm.

18 S he perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.

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

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

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

20 S he extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy.

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

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

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

She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of 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 sits among the elders of the land.

24 S he makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.

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

25 S trength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.

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

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

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

27 S he watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

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

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

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

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

Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well, but you excel them all.

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

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

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

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