| 1 | The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him: |
| 2 | "What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows? |
| 3 | Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings. |
| 4 | Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns. |
| 5 | And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor. |
| 6 | Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul. |
| 7 | Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more. |
| 8 | Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through. |
| 9 | Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor. |
| 10 | Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price. |
| 11 | The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils. |
| 12 | She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life. |
| 13 | She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands. |
| 14 | She has become like a merchant's ship, bringing her bread from far away. |
| 15 | And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids. |
| 16 | She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard. |
| 17 | She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm. |
| 18 | She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night. |
| 19 | She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. |
| 20 | She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor. |
| 21 | She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold. |
| 22 | She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment. |
| 23 | Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land. |
| 24 | She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite. |
| 25 | Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days. |
| 26 | She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. |
| 27 | She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness. |
| 28 | Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her. |
| 29 | Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all. |
| 30 | Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised. |
| 31 | Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates. |
