1 W ords of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2 ` What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 G ive not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

4 N ot for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

5 L est he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6 G ive strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7 H e drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8 O pen thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9 O pen thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies her price.

11 T he heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12 S he hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13 S he hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh her hands.

14 S he hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

15 Y ea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

16 S he hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17 S he hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

18 S he hath perceived when her merchandise good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19 H er hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20 H er hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

21 S he is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed scarlet.

22 O rnamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple her clothing.

23 K nown in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

24 L inen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

25 S trength and honour her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

26 H er mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness on her tongue.

27 S he watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

28 H er sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

29 ` Many the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

30 T he grace false, and the beauty vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

31 G ive ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!