1 The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him:

2 What, my son?

And what, son of my womb?

And what, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women,

Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,

5 Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,

And pervert the *31:5 Lit judgmentrights of all the *31:5 Lit sons of afflictionneedy.

6 Give intoxicating drink to one who is perishing,

And wine to one *31:6 Lit bitter of soulwhose life is bitter.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,

And remember his trouble no more.

8 Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak,

For the *31:8 Lit judgmentrights of all the *31:8 Lit sons of passing awayunfortunate.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

And *31:9 Lit judge the afflicteddefend the rights of the poor and needy.

10 An excellent wife, who can find her?

For her worth is far above jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,

And he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

13 She looks for wool and linen,

And works with her *31:13 Lit palmshands *31:13 Or willinglyin delight.

14 She is like merchant ships;

She brings her food from afar.

15 And she rises while it is still night

And gives food to her household,

And *31:15 Or prescribed tasksportions to her attendants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

From *31:16 Lit the fruit of her palmsher earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She surrounds her waist with strength

And makes her arms strong.

18 She senses that her profit is good;

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the *31:19 I.e., the staff that holds the textile fibers for spinningdistaff,

And her *31:19 Lit palmshands grasp the spindle.

20 She *31:20 Lit spreads out her palmextends her hand to the poor,

And she stretches out 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 makes coverings for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

And *31:24 Lit givessupplies belts to the *31:24 Lit Canaanitetradesmen.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the *31:25 Lit latter daysfuture.

26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the *31:26 Or lawteaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the activities of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

29 "Many daughters have done nobly,

But you excel them all."

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who *31:30 Or reveresfears the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her the *31:31 Lit fruitproduct of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.