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[1]The words of king Lemuel: The prophecy which his mother taught him.
[2]What my son! And what the son of my womb! And what, O son of my desires!
[3]Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways, which is to destroy kings.
[4]It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink,
[5]Lest he drink, and forget the decree, and change the judgment of all the children of affliction.
[6]Give ye strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto them that have grief of heart.
[7]Let him drink, that he may forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
[8]Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all the children of destruction.
[9]Open thy mouth: judge righteously, and judge the afflicted, and the poor.
[10]Who shall find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above the pearls.
[11]The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoil.
[12]She will do him good, and not evil all the days of her life.
[13]She seeketh wool and flax, and laboreth cheerfully with her hands.
[14]She is like the ships of merchants: she bringeth her food from afar.
[15]And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giveth the portion to her household, and the ordinary to her maids.
[16]She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
[17]She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
[18]She feeleth that her merchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
[19]She putteth her hands to the wheel, and her hands handle the spindle.
[20]She stretcheth out her hand to the poor, and putteth forth her hands to the needy.
[21]She feareth not the snow for her family: for all her family is clothed with scarlet.
[22]She maketh herself carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
[23]Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
[24]She maketh sheets, and selleth them, and giveth girdles unto the merchant.
[25]Strength and honor is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall rejoice.
[26]She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of grace is in her tongue.
[27]She overseeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
[28]Her children rise up, and call her blessed: her husband also shall praise her, saying,
[29]Many daughters have done virtuously: but thou surmountest them all.
[30]Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vanity: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
[31]Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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