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 who came from within me? What, son of my promises?

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

Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys 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.

Or they might drink and forget the law, and go against the rights of all who are suffering.

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 about to die, and wine to him whose life is full of trouble.

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

Let him drink and forget how poor he is, and remember his trouble no more.

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

Open your mouth for those who cannot speak, and for the rights of those who are left without help.

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

Open your mouth. Be right and fair in what you decide. Stand up for the rights of those who are suffering and in need.

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

Who can find a good wife? For she is worth far more than rubies that make one rich.

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, and he will never stop getting good things.

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

She does him good and not bad all the days of her life.

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

She looks for 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 ships that trade. She brings her food from far away.

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 still night and makes food for all those in her house. She gives work for the young women to do.

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

She gives careful thought to a field and buys it. She plants grape-vines from what she has earned.

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

She makes herself ready with strength, and makes her arms strong.

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

She sees that what she has earned is good. Her lamp does not go out at night.

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

She puts her hands to the wheel to make cloth.

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, and holds out her hands to those in need.

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 those in her house, for all of them are dressed in red.

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

She makes coverings for herself. Her clothes are linen cloth 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 sits among the leaders of the land.

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

She makes linen clothes and sells them. She brings belts to those who trade.

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

Her clothes are strength and honor. She is full of joy about the future.

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

She opens her mouth with wisdom. The teaching 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 looks well to the ways of those in her house, and does not eat the bread of doing nothing.

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

Her children rise up and honor her. Her husband does also, and he praises her, saying:

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

“Many daughters have done well, but you have done better than all of them.”

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

Pleasing ways lie and beauty comes to nothing, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.

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

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