¹The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle that his mother taught him: ²What, my son? And what, my son in my womb? And what, son of my vows? ³Do not give your strength to the women, and your ways to destroy kings. ⁴It is not for the kings, O Lemuel; drinking wine is not for the kings, nor is strong drink for rulers. ⁵Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed, and he will pervert the rights of all the ⌞afflicted⌟. ⁶Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those ⌞in bitter distress⌟. ⁷He will drink and forget his poverty, and his misery he will not remember any more. ⁸Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the ⌞needy⌟. ⁹Open your mouth, judge righteousness, and defend the poor and needy. ¹⁰A woman of excellence, who will find? For her worth is far more than precious jewels. ¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her, and gain he will not lack. ¹²She does him good, but not harm all the days of her life. ¹³She seeks wool and flax, and she works with the diligence of ⌞her hands⌟. ¹⁴She is like the ships of a merchant; from far off she brings her food; ¹⁵And she arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household, and tasks to her servant girls. ¹⁶She considers a field and buys it, from the fruit of ⌞her hand⌟ she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong. ¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is good; her lamp does not go out in the night. ¹⁹Her hands she puts onto the distaff, and her palms hold a spindle. ²⁰Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches out to the needy. ²¹She does not fear for her house when it snows, for ⌞her entire household⌟ is clothed in crimson. ²²She makes for herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³Her husband is known at the gates, in his seat among the elders of the land. ²⁴Linen garments she makes and sells, and she supplies sashes for the merchants. ²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs ⌞at the future⌟. ²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue. ²⁷She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat. ²⁸Her children rise and consider her happy, her husband also, and he praises her; ²⁹“Many daughters have done excellence, but ⌞you surpass⌟ all of them.” ³⁰Charm is deceit and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised. ³¹Give to her from the fruit of her hand, and may they praise her works in the city gates.