English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

1The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.

2What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?

2O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,

3Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

3do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.

5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

5For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.

6Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;

6Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.

7let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

7Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.

8Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.

8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

9Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

9Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. A Wife of Noble Character

10An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

11Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.

12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

12She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

13She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

13She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.

14She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

14She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.

15She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

15She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

16She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

17She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.

18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

18She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

19She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

19Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.

20She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

20She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

21She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

21She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.

22She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

22She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.

23Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

23Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.

24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

24She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

25She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

26When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

27She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

27She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

28Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:

29“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

29“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

30Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

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

31Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.