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

The words of king Lemuel; the oracle 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? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

3 D o not give your strength to women, Nor 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, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, Where is 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 pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.

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

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul:

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 misery no more.

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

Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

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

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.

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

A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

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

The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.

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

She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.

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

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

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

She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.

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

She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.

16 S he considers a field and buys it; From her profits 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 strengthens her arms.

She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.

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

She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night.

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

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

20 S he extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches 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 snow for her household, For all her household is 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 tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen 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 sashes for the merchants.

She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

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

Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.

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

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.

27 S he watches over 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 call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:

Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:

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

Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.

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

Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, 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 works praise her in the gates.