An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.

The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:

She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.

Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

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

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

She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.

She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

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

She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”

Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

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

She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.

Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.

She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.

She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.

For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

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