The Words of King Lemuel

1Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2‘What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

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

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

6Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!’

The Virtues of Noble Woman

א

10A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.

ב

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

ג

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

ד

13She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.

ה

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

ו

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

ז

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

ח

17She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

ט

18She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

י

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

כ

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

ל

21She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.

מ

22Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.

נ

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

ס

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

ע

25Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

פ

26Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.

צ

27She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

ק

28Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

ר

29‘Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.’

ש

30The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

ת

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