¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. ² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? ³ Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink ⁵ unless they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted . ⁶ Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavy hearts. ⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. ⁸ Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. ⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. ¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. ¹¹ The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he will have no need of spoil. ¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ¹³ She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchants ' ships she brings her food from afar. ¹⁵ She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion to her young women. ¹⁶ She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms. ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night. ¹⁹ She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. ²⁰ She stretches out her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches forward her hands to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²² She makes herself coverings of tapestry her clothing is silk and purple. ²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles to the merchant. ²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing and she will rejoice in time to come. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. ²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. ²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excels them all. ³⁰ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she will be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.