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¹ The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.² What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?³ Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to [those women who] destroy kings.⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to desire strong drink.⁵ Or else they will drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice [due] to any that is afflicted.⁶ Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, And wine to the bitter in soul:⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, And give justice to the poor and needy.

¹⁰ A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.¹² She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.¹³ She seeks wool and flax, And works willingly with her hands.¹⁴ She is like the merchant-ships; She brings her bread from far.¹⁵ She rises also while it is yet night, And gives food to her household, And their task to her maidens.¹⁶ She considers a field, and buys it; With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.¹⁷ She girds her loins with strength, And makes her arms strong.¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp does not go out by night.¹⁹ She lays her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.²⁰ She stretches out her hand to the poor; Yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household has double clothes.²² She makes for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.²³ Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, And delivers girdles to the merchant.²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laughs at the time to come.²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.²⁸ Her sons rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he praises her, [saying]:²⁹ Many daughters have done worthily, But you excel them all.³⁰ Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; [But] a woman that fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.