The Sayings for King Lemuel

1The words of king Lemuel: The prophecie which his mother taught him.

2What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!

3Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.

4It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,

5Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.

6Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.

7Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.

8Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.

9Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

10Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.

11The heart of her husbande trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.

12She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.

13She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.

14She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.

15And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.

16She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.

17She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.

18She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.

19She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.

20She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.

21She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.

22She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.

23Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.

24She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.

25Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.

26She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.

27She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.

28Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,

29Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.

30Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lorde, she shall be praysed.

31Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.