1 T he words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

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

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

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, or 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, or for rulers to desire strong drink.

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

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

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

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 how poor he is, and remember his trouble no more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 trusts in her, and he will never stop getting good things.

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 bad 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 looks for wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

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

14 S he is like ships that trade. She brings her food from far away.

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

15 S he rises while it is still night and makes food for all those in her house. She gives work for the young women to do.

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

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

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

17 S he makes herself ready with strength, and makes her arms strong.

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

18 S he sees that what she has earned is good. Her lamp does not go out at 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 puts her hands to the wheel to make cloth.

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

20 S he opens her hand to the poor, and holds out her hands to those in need.

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

21 S he is not afraid of the snow for those in her house, for all of them are dressed in red.

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

22 S he makes coverings for herself. Her clothes are linen cloth 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 leaders of the land.

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

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

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

25 H er clothes are strength and honor. She is full of joy about the future.

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. The teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

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

27 S he looks well to the ways of those in her house, and does not eat the bread of doing nothing.

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

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 have done better than all of them.”

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

30 P leasing ways lie and beauty comes to nothing, but a woman who fears the Lord will 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 the fruit 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!