1
The words[H1697] of king[H4428]Lemuel[H3927], the prophecy[H4853] that his mother[H517]taught[H3256] him.
2
What, my son?[H1248] and what, the son[H1248] of my womb?[H990] and what, the son[H1248] of my vows?[H5088]
3Give[H5414] not thy strength[H2428] unto women[H802], nor thy ways[H1870] to that which destroyeth[H4229]kings[H4428].
4
It is not for[H335]kings[H4428], O Lemuel[H3927], it is not for[H176]kings[H4428] to drink[H8354]wine[H3196]; nor for[H176]princes[H7336] strong drink[H7941]:
5
Lest they drink[H8354], and forget[H7911] the law[H2710], and pervert[H8138] the judgment[H1779] of any of the afflicted[H1121].
6Give[H5414] strong drink[H7941] unto him that is ready to perish[H6], and wine[H3196] unto those that be of heavy[H4751]hearts[H5315].
7
Let him drink[H8354], and forget[H7911] his poverty[H7389], and remember[H2142] his misery[H5999] no more.
8Open[H6605] thy mouth[H6310] for the dumb[H483] in the cause[H1779] of all such as are appointed[H1121] to destruction[H2475].
9Open[H6605] thy mouth[H6310], judge[H8199]righteously[H6664], and plead[H1777] the cause of the poor[H6041] and needy[H34].
10
Who can find[H4672] a virtuous[H2428]woman?[H802] for her price[H4377] is far[H7350] above rubies[H6443].
11
The heart[H3820] of her husband[H1167] doth safely trust[H982] in her, so that he shall have no need[H2637] of spoil[H7998].
12
She will do[H1580] him good[H2896] and not evil[H7451] all the days[H3117] of her life[H2416].
13
She seeketh[H1875]wool[H6785], and flax[H6593], and worketh[H6213]willingly[H2656] with her hands[H3709].
14
She is like the merchants[H5503]' ships[H591]; she bringeth[H935] her food[H3899] from afar[H4801].
15
She riseth[H6965] also while it is yet night[H3915], and giveth[H5414]meat[H2964] to her household[H1004], and a portion[H2706] to her maidens[H5291].
16
She considereth[H2161] a field[H7704], and buyeth[H3947] it: with the fruit[H6529] of her hands[H3709] she planteth[H5193] a vineyard[H3754].
17
She girdeth[H2296] her loins[H4975] with strength[H5797], and strengtheneth[H553] her arms[H2220].
18
She perceiveth[H2938] that her merchandise[H5504] is good[H2896]: her candle[H5216] goeth not out[H3518] by night[H3915].
19
She layeth[H7971] her hands[H3027] to the spindle[H3601], and her hands[H3709]hold[H8551] the distaff[H6418].
20
She stretcheth out[H6566] her hand[H3709] to the poor[H6041]; yea, she reacheth forth[H7971] her hands[H3027] to the needy[H34].
21
She is not afraid[H3372] of the snow[H7950] for her household[H1004]: for all her household[H1004] are clothed[H3847] with scarlet[H8144].
22
She maketh[H6213] herself coverings of tapestry[H4765]; her clothing[H3830] is silk[H8336] and purple[H713].
23
Her husband[H1167] is known[H3045] in the gates[H8179], when he sitteth[H3427] among the elders[H2205] of the land[H776].
24
She maketh[H6213] fine linen[H5466], and selleth[H4376] it; and delivereth[H5414]girdles[H2289] unto the merchant[H3669].
25Strength[H5797] and honour[H1926] are her clothing[H3830]; and she shall rejoice[H7832] in time[H3117] to come[H314].
26
She openeth[H6605] her mouth[H6310] with wisdom[H2451]; and in her tongue[H3956] is the law[H8451] of kindness[H2617].
27
She looketh well[H6822] to the ways[H1979] of her household[H1004], and eateth[H398] not the bread[H3899] of idleness[H6104].
28
Her children[H1121] arise up[H6965], and call her blessed[H833]; her husband[H1167] also, and he praiseth[H1984] her.
29Many[H7227]daughters[H1323] have done[H6213]virtuously[H2428], but thou excellest[H5927] them all.
30Favour[H2580] is deceitful[H8267], and beauty[H3308] is vain[H1892]: but a woman[H802] that feareth[H3373] the LORD[H3068], she shall be praised[H1984].
31Give[H5414] her of the fruit[H6529] of her hands[H3027]; and let her own works[H4639]praise[H1984] her in the gates[H8179].