The words of King Lemuel, the 1oracle which his mother taught him:
2What, O my son? And what, O ason of my womb? And what, O son of my bvows?
3aDo not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which bdestroys kings.
4It is not for akings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to bdrink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And apervert the 1rights of all the 2afflicted.
6Give strong drink to him who is aperishing, And wine to him 1 bwhose life is bitter.
7Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more.
8aOpen your mouth for the mute, For the 1rights of all the 2unfortunate.
9Open your mouth, ajudge righteously, And 1defend the brights of the afflicted and needy.
An aexcellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far babove jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.
13She looks for wool and flax And works with her 1hands 2in delight.
14She is like amerchant ships; She brings her food from afar.
15She arises also while it is still night And bgives food to her household And 1portions to her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it; From 1her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She agirds 1herself with strength And makes her arms strong.
18She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her 1hands grasp the spindle.
20She 1 aextends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are aclothed with scarlet.
22She makes acoverings for herself; Her clothing is bfine linen and cpurple.
23Her husband is known ain the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes alinen garments and sells them, And 1supplies belts to the 2tradesmen.
25Strength and adignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the 1future.
26She aopens her mouth in wisdom, And the 1teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the abread of idleness.
28Her 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."
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who 1 afears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her the 1product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.