¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy["burden"] that his mother taught him.

² What, my son?
and what, the son of my womb?
and what, the son of my vows?
³ Give not thy strength unto women,
nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
⁴ It is not for kings,
O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine;
nor for princes strong drink:
⁵ Lest they drink,
and forget the law,
and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted [sons of misery].
⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
⁷ Let him drink,
and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
⁸ Open thy mouth
for the dumb
in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
⁹ 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.