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31The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
²No, my son! No, son of my womb!
No, son of my vows!
³Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to desire strong drink;
⁵or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed,
and will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
⁶Give strong drink to one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
⁷let them drink and forget their poverty,
and remember their misery no more.
⁸Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute.
⁹Speak out, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy. ¹⁰A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
¹⁴She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from far away.
¹⁵She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her servant-girls.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She girds herself with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all her household are clothed in crimson.
²²She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchant with sashes.
²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and call her happy;
her husband too, and he praises her:
²⁹“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.