¹ The words of king Lemuel; the burden wherewith his mother corrected 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 that which destroyeth kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel,¹ it is not for kings to drink wine: nor for princes to say: 'Where is strong drink?'

1. Heb. Lemoel.

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget that which is decreed, and pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter in soul;

⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰ A woman of valour who can find? for her price is far above rubies.

¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he hath no lack of gain.

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 merchant-ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with 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 merchandise is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.

¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, 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 for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

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

²⁴ She maketh linen garments and selleth them; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing; and she laugheth at the time to come.

²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue.

²⁷ She looketh well to 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 valiantly, but thou excellest them all.'

³⁰ Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth HaShem, she shall be praised.

³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates.