The words of king Lemuel,{HR}The prophecy that his mother taught him:
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?{HR}And what, O son of my vows?{HR}
Give not thy strength unto women,{HR}Nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine,{HR}Nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?{HR}
—Lest they drink and forget the law,{HR}And pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,{HR}And wine unto the bitter of soul:{HR}
Let him drink, and forget his poverty,{HR}And remember his misery no more.
Open thy mouth for the dumb,{HR}For the cause of all those that are left desolate.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously,{HR}And minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
Who can find a woman of worth?{HR}For her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband confideth in her,{HR}And he shall have no lack of spoil.
She doeth him good, and not evil,{HR}All the days of her life.
She seeketh wool and flax,{HR}And worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants’ ships:{HR}She bringeth her food from afar;
And she riseth while it is yet night,{HR}And giveth meat to her household,{HR}And the day’s work to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it;{HR}Of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength,{HR}And maketh strong her arms.
She perceiveth that her earning is good;{HR}Her lamp goeth not out by night.
She putteth her hands to the distaff,{HR}And her hands hold the spindle.
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted,{HR}And she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household;{HR}For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverlets;{HR}Her clothing is byssus and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,{HR}When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh body linen and selleth it,{HR}And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,{HR}And she laugheth [at] the coming day.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom;{HR}And upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
She surveyeth the ways of her household,{HR}And eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;{HR}Her husband [also] , and he praiseth her:
Many daughters have done worthily,{HR}But thou excellest them all.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain;{HR}A woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,{HR}And let her own works praise her in the gates.