^{1 Ref} The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

^{2 Ref} What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

^{3 Ref} Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

^{4 Ref} It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

^{5 Ref} Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

^{6 Ref} Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

^{7 Ref} Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

^{8 Ref} Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

^{9 Ref} Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

^{10 Ref} Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

^{11 Ref} The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

^{12 Ref} She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

^{13 Ref} She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

^{14 Ref} She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

^{15 Ref} She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

^{16 Ref} She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

^{17 Ref} She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

^{18 Ref} She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

^{19 Ref} She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

^{20 Ref} She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

^{21 Ref} She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

^{22 Ref} She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

^{23 Ref} Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

^{24 Ref} She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

^{25 Ref} Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

^{26 Ref} She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

^{27 Ref} She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

^{28 Ref} Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

^{29 Ref} Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

^{30 Ref} Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

^{31 Ref} Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

^{1 Ref} The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

^{2 Ref} What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

^{3 Ref} Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

^{4 Ref} It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes `to say', Where is strong drink?

^{5 Ref} Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice `due' to any that is afflicted.

^{6 Ref} Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul:

^{7 Ref} Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.

^{8 Ref} Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

^{9 Ref} Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.

^{10 Ref} A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

^{11 Ref} The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.

^{12 Ref} She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.

^{13 Ref} She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.

^{14 Ref} She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.

^{15 Ref} She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.

^{16 Ref} She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

^{17 Ref} She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.

^{18 Ref} She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night.

^{19 Ref} She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.

^{20 Ref} She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

^{21 Ref} She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

^{22 Ref} She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

^{23 Ref} Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.

^{24 Ref} She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

^{25 Ref} Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.

^{26 Ref} She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.

^{27 Ref} She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.

^{28 Ref} Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband `also', and he praiseth her, `saying':

^{29 Ref} Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.

^{30 Ref} Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; `But' a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.

^{31 Ref} Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.

^{1 Ref} Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

^{2 Ref} `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

^{3 Ref} Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

^{4 Ref} Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

^{5 Ref} Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

^{6 Ref} Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

^{7 Ref} He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

^{8 Ref} Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

^{9 Ref} Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

^{10 Ref} A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies `is' her price.

^{11 Ref} The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

^{12 Ref} She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

^{13 Ref} She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh `with' her hands.

^{14 Ref} She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

^{15 Ref} Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

^{16 Ref} She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

^{17 Ref} She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

^{18 Ref} She hath perceived when her merchandise `is' good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

^{19 Ref} Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

^{20 Ref} Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

^{21 Ref} She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed `with' scarlet.

^{22 Ref} Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple `are' her clothing.

^{23 Ref} Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

^{24 Ref} Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

^{25 Ref} Strength and honour `are' her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

^{26 Ref} Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness `is' on her tongue.

^{27 Ref} She `is' watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

^{28 Ref} Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

^{29 Ref} `Many `are' the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

^{30 Ref} The grace `is' false, and the beauty `is' vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

^{31 Ref} Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!