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

Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that 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, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

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

Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

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

Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

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

Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

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

Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

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

He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

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

Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

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

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

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

A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies her price.

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

The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

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

She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

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

She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh her hands.

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

She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

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

Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

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

She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

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

She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

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

She hath perceived when her merchandise good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

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

Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

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

Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth 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 her household from snow, For all her household are clothed scarlet.

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

Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple her clothing.

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

Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

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

Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

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

Strength and honour her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

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

Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness on her tongue.

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

She watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

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

Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

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

`Many the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

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

The grace false, and the beauty vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

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

Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!