The Sayings for King Lemuel

¹ These are the words of King Lemuel — the burden^* that his mother taught him:

² What shall I say, O my son?

What, O son of my womb?

What, O son of my vows?

³ Do not spend your strength on women

or your vigor on those who ruin^* kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

or for rulers to crave strong drink,

⁵ lest they drink and forget what is decreed,

depriving all the oppressed of justice.

⁶ Give strong drink to one who is perishing,

and wine to the bitter in soul.

⁷ Let him drink and forget his poverty,

and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for those with no voice,

for the cause of all the dispossessed.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,

and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

¹⁰ A wife of noble character,^* who can find?

She is far more precious than rubies.

¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good and not harm

all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She rises while it is still night

to provide food^* for her household

and portions for her maidservants.

¹⁶ She appraises a field and buys it;

from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She girds herself with strength

and shows that her arms are strong.

¹⁸ She sees that her gain is good,

and her lamp is not extinguished at night.

¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens^* her arms to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household,

for they are all clothed in scarlet.^*

²² She makes coverings for her bed;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is known at the city gates,

where he sits among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchants.

²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing,

and she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband praises her as well:

²⁹ “Many daughters have done noble things,^*

but you surpass them all!”

³⁰ Charm^* is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her at the gates.