Read the Bible

¹ The wordes of King Lemuel, the prophecie that his mother taught him. ² What, my sonne! and what, the sonne of my wombe! and what, the sonne of my vowes! ³ Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes to that which destroyeth kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drinke wine, nor for Princes, strong drinke: ⁵ Lest they drinke, and forget the Law, and peruert the iudgement of any of the afflicted. ⁶ Giue strong drinke vnto him that is ready to perish, and wine vnto those that be of heauie hearts. ⁷ Let him drinke, and forget his pouertie, and remember his misery no more. ⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumbe in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. ⁹ Open thy mouth, iudge righteously, and plead the cause of the poore and needy.

¹⁰ Who can finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue Rubies. ¹¹ The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, so that he shall haue no need of spoile. ¹² She will doe him good, and not euill, all the dayes of her life. ¹³ She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchants ships, she bringeth her food from afarre. ¹⁵ Shee riseth also while it is yet night, and giueth meate to her household, and a portion to her maydens. ¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her handes she planteth a Uineyard. ¹⁷ She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes. ¹⁸ She perceiueth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night. ¹⁹ She layeth her handes to the spindle, and her handes hold the distaffe. ²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, yea she reacheth foorth her handes to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her houshold: for all her houshold are cloathed with scarlet. ²² She maketh herselfe couerings of tapestrie; her cloathing is silke and purple. ²³ Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth among the Elders of the land. ²⁴ She maketh fine linnen, and selleth it, and deliuereth girdles vnto the merchant. ²⁵ Strength and honour are her cloathing; and she shall reioyce in time to come. ²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisedome; and in her tongue is the law of kindnesse. ²⁷ She looketh well to the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of idlenesse. ²⁸ Her children arise vp, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ²⁹ Many daughters haue done vertuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰ Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vaine: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shalbe praised. ³¹ Giue her of the fruit of her hands, and let her owne workes praise her in the gates.