The Words of King Lemuel

1The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.

2What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?

3Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.

4Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:

5And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.

6Give strong drink to them that are sad; and wine to them that are grieved in mind:

7Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.

9Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.

The Virtues of Noble Woman

א

10Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.

ב

11The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.

ג

12She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life.

ד

13She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.

ה

14She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.

ו

15And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.

ז

16She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

ח

17She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.

ט

18She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.

י

19She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.

כ

20She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.

ל

21She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.

מ

22She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple, is her covering.

נ

23Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.

ס

24She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.

ע

25Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.

פ

26She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.

צ

27She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.

ק

28Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.

ר

29Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.

ש

30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

ת

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