1 Palavras do rei Lemuel, de Massá, as quais lhe ensinou sua mãe.

2 Que te direi, filho meu? Ó filho do meu ventre?

Que te direi, ó filho dos meus votos?

3 Não dês às mulheres a tua força,

nem os teus caminhos, às que destroem os reis.

4 Não é próprio dos reis, ó Lemuel,

não é próprio dos reis beber vinho,

nem dos príncipes desejar bebida forte.

5 Para que não bebam, e se esqueçam da lei,

e pervertam o direito de todos os aflitos.

6 Dai bebida forte aos que perecem

e vinho, aos amargurados de espírito;

7 para que bebam, e se esqueçam da sua pobreza,

e de suas fadigas não se lembrem mais.

8 Abre a boca a favor do mudo,

pelo direito de todos os que se acham desamparados.

9 Abre a boca, julga retamente

e faze justiça aos pobres e aos necessitados.

10 Mulher virtuosa, quem a achará?

O seu valor muito excede o de finas joias.

11 O coração do seu marido confia nela,

e não haverá falta de ganho.

12 Ela lhe faz bem e não mal,

todos os dias da sua vida.

13 Busca lã e linho

e de bom grado trabalha com as mãos.

14 É como o navio mercante:

de longe traz o seu pão.

15 É ainda noite, e já se levanta,

e dá mantimento à sua casa

e a tarefa às suas servas.

16 Examina uma propriedade e adquire-a;

planta uma vinha com as rendas do seu trabalho.

17 Cinge os lombos de força

e fortalece os braços.

18 Ela percebe que o seu ganho é bom;

a sua lâmpada não se apaga de noite.

19 Estende as mãos ao fuso,

mãos que pegam na roca.

20 Abre a mão ao aflito;

e ainda a estende ao necessitado.

21 No tocante à sua casa, não teme a neve,

pois todos andam vestidos de lã escarlate.

22 Faz para si cobertas,

veste-se de linho fino e de púrpura.

23 Seu marido é estimado entre os juízes,

quando se assenta com os anciãos da terra.

24 Ela faz roupas de linho fino, e vende-as,

e dá cintas aos mercadores.

25 A força e a dignidade são os seus vestidos,

e, quanto ao dia de amanhã, não tem preocupações.

26 Fala com sabedoria,

e a instrução da bondade está na sua língua.

27 Atende ao bom andamento da sua casa

e não come o pão da preguiça.

28 Levantam-se seus filhos e lhe chamam ditosa;

seu marido a louva, dizendo:

29 Muitas mulheres procedem virtuosamente,

mas tu a todas sobrepujas.

30 Enganosa é a graça, e vã, a formosura,

mas a mulher que teme ao Senhor, essa será louvada.

31 Dai-lhe do fruto das suas mãos,

e de público a louvarão as suas obras.

1 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught 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, it is not for kings to drink wine;

Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law,

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 left desolate.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously,

And minister justice to the poor and needy.

10 A worthy woman who can find?

For her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her,

And he shall have 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 bread from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night,

And giveth food to her household,

And their task 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 profitable;

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 carpets of tapestry;

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, saying:

29 Many daughters have done worthily,

But thou excellest them all.

30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;

But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands;

And let her works praise her in the gates.

1 The sayings of King Lemuel —an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!

3 Do not spend your strength "on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel — it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,

5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

6 Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!

7 Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.

16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.