1 The words1697 of king4428 Lemuel,3927 the prophecy4853 that his mother517 taught3256 him.

2 What,4100 my son?1248 and what,4100 the son1248 of my womb?990 and what,4100 the son1248 of my vows?5088

3 Give5414 not your strength2428 to women,802 nor your ways1870 to that which destroys4229 kings.4428

4 It is not for kings,4428 O Lemuel,3927 it is not for kings4428 to drink8354 wine;3196 nor408 for princes7336 strong drink:7941

5 Lest6435 they drink,8354 and forget7911 the law,2710 and pervert8138 the judgment1779 of any3605 of the afflicted.6040

6 Give5414 strong drink7941 to him that is ready4131 to perish,6 and wine3196 to those that be of heavy4751 hearts.5315

7 Let him drink,8354 and forget7911 his poverty,7389 and remember2142 his misery5999 no3808 more.5750

8 Open6605 your mouth6310 for the dumb483 in the cause1779 of all3605 such as are appointed1121 to destruction.2475

9 Open6605 your mouth,6310 judge8199 righteously,6664 and plead1777 the cause of the poor6041 and needy.34

10 Who4310 can find4672 a virtuous2428 woman?802 for her price4377 is far7350 above rubies.6443

11 The heart3820 of her husband1167 does safely trust982 in her, so that he shall have no3808 need2637 of spoil.7998

12 She will do1580 him good2896 and not evil7451 all3605 the days3117 of her life.2416

13 She seeks1875 wool,6785 and flax,6593 and works6213 willingly2656 with her hands.3709

14 She is like the merchants'5503 ships;591 she brings935 her food3899 from afar.4801

15 She rises6965 also while it is yet5750 night,3915 and gives5414 meat2964 to her household,1004 and a portion2706 to her maidens.5291

16 She considers2161 a field,7704 and buys3947 it: with the fruit6529 of her hands3709 she plants5195 a vineyard.3754

17 She girds2296 her loins4975 with strength,5797 and strengthens553 her arms.2220

18 She perceives2938 that her merchandise5504 is good:2896 her candle5216 goes3518 not out by night.3915

19 She lays7971 her hands3027 to the spindle,3601 and her hands3709 hold8551 the distaff.6418

20 She stretches6566 out her hand3709 to the poor;6041 yes, she reaches7971 forth6566 her hands3027 to the needy.34

21 She is not afraid3372 of the snow7950 for her household:1004 for all3605 her household1004 are clothed3847 with scarlet.8144

22 She makes6213 herself coverings4765 of tapestry; her clothing3830 is silk8336 and purple.713

23 Her husband1167 is known3045 in the gates,8179 when he sits3427 among5973 the elders2205 of the land.776

24 She makes6213 fine linen,5466 and sells4376 it; and delivers5414 girdles2290 to the merchant.5503

25 Strength5797 and honor1926 are her clothing;3830 and she shall rejoice7832 in time3117 to come.314

26 She opens6605 her mouth6310 with wisdom;2451 and in her tongue3956 is the law8451 of kindness.2617

27 She looks6822 well6822 to the ways1979 of her household,1004 and eats398 not the bread3899 of idleness.6104

28 Her children1121 arise6965 up, and call833 her blessed;833 her husband1167 also, and he praises1984 her.

29 Many7227 daughters1323 have done6213 virtuously,2428 but you excel5927 them all.3605

30 Favor2580 is deceitful,8267 and beauty3308 is vain:1892 but a woman802 that fears3373 the LORD,3068 she shall be praised.1984

31 Give5414 her of the fruit6529 of her hands;3027 and let her own works4639 praise1984 her in the gates.8179