| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: | 1The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him: |
| 2What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows? | 2O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, |
| 3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. | 3Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings. |
| 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, | 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, |
| 5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice. | 5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and remove from all the poor their legal rights. |
| 6Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul. | 6Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitterly distressed; |
| 7Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. | 7let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more. |
| 8Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. | 8Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. |
| 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy. | 9Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. |
| 10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. | 10Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies. |
| 11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. | 11The heart of her husband has confidence in her, and he has no lack of gain. |
| 12She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life. | 12She brings him good and not evil all the days of her life. |
| 13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. | 13She obtains wool and flax, and she is pleased to work with her hands. |
| 14She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. | 14She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. |
| 15She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants. | 15She also gets up while it is still night, and provides food for her household and a portion to her female servants. |
| 16She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. | 16She considers a field and buys it; from her own income she plants a vineyard. |
| 17She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong. | 17She begins her work vigorously, and she strengthens her arms. |
| 18She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night. | 18She knows that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out in the night. |
| 19She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. | 19Her hands take hold of the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. |
| 20She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. | 20She extends her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy. |
| 21When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet. | 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all of her household are clothed with scarlet. |
| 22She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple. | 22She makes for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple. |
| 23Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land. | 23Her husband is well-known in the city gate when he sits with the elders of the land. |
| 24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants. | 24She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. |
| 25Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come. | 25She is clothed with strength and honor, and she can laugh at the time to come. |
| 26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. | 26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. |
| 27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. | 27She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. |
| 28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well: | 28Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also praises her: |
| 29“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!” | 29"Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all!" |
| 30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. | 30Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. |
| 31Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates. | 31Give her credit for what she has accomplished, and let her works praise her in the city gates. |
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