The Sayings for King Lemuel

1The words of Lemuel the king, the lifting up which his mother will instruct him.

2What, my son? and what the son of my womb? and what the son of my vows?

3Thou shalt not give thy strength to women, and thy ways to the destroying of kings.

4Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink and for princes the desire of strong drink:

5Lest he shall drink and forget what is prescribed, and change the judgment of all the sons of affliction.

6Ye shall give strong drink to him perishing, and wine to the bitter of soul.

7He shall drink and forget his poverty, and shall no more remember his toil.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the judgment of all the sons of the surviving.

9Open thy mouth; judge justly, and contend for the poor and needy.

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

10Who shall find a woman of virtue? for her price is far above pearls.

11The heart of her husband trusted in her, and he shall not want spoil.

12She rewarded him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13She sought wool and flax, and she will work in delight with her hands.

14She was as the ships of the merchant; from far off she will bring her bread.

15She will rise while yet night, and she will give food to her house, and a portion to her girls.

16She purposed a field, and he will take it: from the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.

17She girded her loins with strength, and she will strengthen her arms.

18She tasted that her traffic is good: her light will not go out by night.

19She sent forth her hands upon the spindle, and her hands take hold of the whirl.

20She spread forth her hands to the poor, and sent forth her hands to the needy.

21She will not fear for her house from snow, for all her house put on double.

22She made for herself coverings; byssus and purple her clothing.

23Her husband was known in the gates, in his sitting with the old men of the land.

24She made the under garment, and she will sell; and she gave a girdle to the Canaanite.

25Strength and ornament her clothing; and she will laugh to the last day.

26She opened her mouth in wisdom, and the law of mercy upon her tongue.

27She viewed the goings of her house, and the bread of sloth she will not eat.

28Her sons rose up and they will call her happy; her husband, and he will praise her.

29Many daughters did virtue, and thou wentest up over all of them.

30Favor a falsehood, and beauty vanity: a woman fearing Jehovah, she shall be praised.

31Ye shall give her from the fruit of her hands, and her works shall praise her in the gates.