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A Mother’s Warning

31 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:

O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
do not give your vigor to women,
or your ways to what ruins kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to crave strong drink,
lest they drink, forget what is decreed,
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.
Give strong drink to one who is dying,
and wine to those who are bitterly distressed—
let him drink, forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.

Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak,
for the justice of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
plead the cause of the poor and needy.

A Woman of Valor

10 An accomplished woman who can find?
Her value is far beyond rubies.
11 Her husband’s heart trusts in her,
and he lacks nothing valuable.
12 She brings him good and not harm
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and her hands work willingly.
14 She is like merchant ships,
bringing her sustenance from afar.
15 She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it.
From the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
and invigorates her arms.
18 She discerns that her business is good.
Her lamp never goes out at night.
19 She extends her hands to the spindle
and her palm grasps the spinning wheel.
20 She spreads out her palms to the poor,
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her house,
for her whole household is clothed in scarlet wool.
22 She makes her own luxurious coverings.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them
and supplies sashes to the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the days to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom—
a lesson of kindness 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 bless her,
her husband also praises her:
29 “Many daughters have excelled,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears Adonai will be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands.
Let her deeds be her praise at the gates.

31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that 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 worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion 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 strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

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 herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: 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.