1The words of Sovereign Lemu’ĕl, a message which his mother taught him:

2What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to wiping away sovereigns.

4Not for sovereigns, O Lemu’ĕl, Not for sovereigns to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;

5Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the right of all the afflicted.

6Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those embittered in being.

7Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his trouble no more.

8Open your mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all the sons of the departed.

9Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10Who does find a capable wife? For she is worth far more than rubies.

11The heart of her husband shall trust her, And he has no lack of gain.

12She shall do him good, and not evil, All the days of her life.

13She shall seek wool and flax, And with delight she works with her hands.

14She shall be as the ships of Tarshish, She brings in her food from afar.

15She also rises while it is still night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her girls.

16She shall consider a field and buy it; From her profits she shall plant a vineyard.

17She shall gird herself with strength, And strengthen her arms.

18She shall taste when her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out by night.

19She shall stretch out her hands to the distaff, And her hand shall hold the spindle.

20She shall extend her hand to the poor, And she shall reach out her hands to the needy.

21She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is dressed in scarlet.

22She shall make tapestry for herself; She is dressed in fine linen and purple.

23Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

24She shall make fine linen and sell them, And shall give girdles for the merchants.

25Strength and splendour are her garments, And she rejoices in time to come.

26She shall open her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the Torah of kindness.

27She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children shall rise up and call her blessed; Her husband too, and he praises her:

29“Many daughters have done nobly, But you have risen over them all.”

30Loveliness is deceptive And prettiness is vain, A woman who fears יהוה is to be praised.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.