1 The sayings of King Lemuel – an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Do not spend your strength on women,your vigour on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel –it is not for kings to drink wine,not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink and forget their povertyand remember their misery no more.
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;defend the rights of the poor and needy.
10 A wife of noble character who can find?She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in herand lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flaxand works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;she provides food for her familyand portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaffand grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poorand extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her householdand does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;her husband also, and he praises her:
29 ‘Many women do noble things,but you surpass them all.’
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honour her for all that her hands have done,and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.Footnotes for the Book of Proverbsa 17 Or covenant of her Goda 7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore getb 7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you getc 26 Or Make levela 3 Or Go and humble yourself,a 5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your mindsb 16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulersc 22 Or way; or dominiond 22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his worke 30 Or was the master worker; or was a little childa 6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violenceb 7 See Gen. 48:20.a 27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.a 22 Or showb 33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not knowna 20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is goodb 21 Or words make a person persuasivec 23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasivea 27 Or A person’s words area 1 Or whob 7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he isa 23 Hebrew; Septuagint smootha 3 Or A poor personb 18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into onea 1 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text utterance to Ithiel, / to Ithiel and Ukal:b 31 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.