2 What, my son? and what the son of my womb? and what the son of my vows?
3 Thou shalt not give thy strength to women, and thy ways to the destroying of kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink and for princes the desire of strong drink:
5 Lest he shall drink and forget what is prescribed, and change the judgment of all the sons of affliction.
6 Ye shall give strong drink to him perishing, and wine to the bitter of soul
7 He shall drink and forget his poverty, and shall no more remember his toil.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the judgment of all the sons of the surviving.
9 Open thy mouth; judge justly, and contend for the poor and needy.
10 Who shall find a woman of virtue? for her price is far above pearls.
11 The heart of her husband trusted in her, and he shall not want spoil.
12 She rewarded him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She sought wool and flax, and she will work in delight with her hands.
14 She was as the ships of the merchant; from far off she will bring her bread.
15 She will rise while yet night, and she will give food to her house, and a portion to her girls.
16 She purposed a field, and he will take it: from the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.
17 She girded her loins with strength, and she will strengthen her arms.
18 She tasted that her traffic is good: her light will not go out by night
19 She sent forth her hands upon the spindle, and her hands take hold of the whirl.
20 She spread forth her hands to the poor, and sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 She will not fear for her house from snow, for all her house put on double.
22 She made for herself coverings; byssus and purple her clothing.
23 Her husband was known in the gates, in his sitting with the old men of the land.
24 She made the under garment., and she will sell; and she gave a girdle to the Canaanite.
25 Strength and ornament her clothing; and she will laugh to the last day.
26 She opened her mouth in wisdom, and the law of mercy upon her tongue.
27 She viewed the goings of her house, and the bread of sloth she will not eat
28 Her sons rose up and they will call her happy; her husband, and he will praise her.
29 Many daughters did virtue, and thou wentest up over all of them.
30 Favor a falsehood, and beauty vanity: a woman fearing Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Ye shall give her from the fruit of her hands, and her works shall praise her in the gates.