| 1 | The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him: |
| 2 | What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows? |
| 3 | Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings. |
| 4 | It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink? |
| 5 | -- lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction. |
| 6 | Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul: |
| 7 | let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. |
| 8 | Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate. |
| 9 | Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy. |
| 10 | Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies. |
| 11 | The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil. |
| 12 | She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. |
| 13 | She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. |
| 14 | She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar; |
| 15 | And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens. |
| 16 | She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. |
| 17 | She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms. |
| 18 | She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night. |
| 19 | She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. |
| 20 | She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. |
| 21 | She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. |
| 22 | She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple. |
| 23 | Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. |
| 24 | She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. |
| 25 | Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day. |
| 26 | She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness. |
| 27 | She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. |
| 28 | Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her: |
| 29 | Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all. |
| 30 | Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised. |
| 31 | Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. |
