1The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.

2What, my son? What is it, son of my womb?
What do you want, son of my vows?

3Do not give your strength to women,
or your ways to those who destroy kings.

4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5because when they drink they forget what has been decreed,
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6Give strong drink to a person who is perishing
and wine to those in bitter distress.

7He will drink and he will forget his poverty
and he will not remember his trouble.

8Speak for those who cannot speak,
for the causes of all who are perishing.

9Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right
and plead the cause of poor and needy people.

10Who can find a capable wife?
Her value is far more than jewels.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will never be poor.

12She does good things for him and not evil
all the days of her life.

13She selects wool and flax,
and works with the delight of her hands.

14She is like the merchant ships;
she brings her food from far away.

15She rises while it is night
and gives food to her household,
and she distributes the work for her female servants.

16She considers a field and buys it,
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.

18She perceives what will make a good profit for her;
all night long her lamp is not extinguished.

19She puts her hands on the spindle,
and she holds the twisting thread.

20She reaches out with her hand to poor people;
she reaches out with her hands to needy people.

21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22She makes coverings for her bed,
and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.

23Her husband is known at the gates,
when he sits with the elders of the land.

24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and she supplies sashes to the merchants.

25She is clothed with strength and honor,
and she laughs at the time to come.

26She opens her mouth with wisdom
and the law of kindness is on her tongue.

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

28Her children rise up and call her blessed,
and her husband praises her, saying,

29“Many women have done well,
but you surpassed them all.”

30Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.

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