Skip to content- 1Verse 1. These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
- 2Verse 2. What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
- 3Verse 3. Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
- 4Verse 4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
- 5Verse 5. lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
- 6Verse 6. Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
- 7Verse 7. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
- 8Verse 8. Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
- 9Verse 9. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
- 10Verse 10. A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
- 11Verse 11. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
- 12Verse 12. She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
- 13Verse 13. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
- 14Verse 14. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
- 15Verse 15. She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
- 16Verse 16. She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
- 17Verse 17. She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
- 18Verse 18. She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
- 19Verse 19. She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
- 20Verse 20. She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
- 21Verse 21. When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
- 22Verse 22. She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
- 23Verse 23. Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
- 24Verse 24. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
- 25Verse 25. Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
- 26Verse 26. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
- 27Verse 27. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
- 28Verse 28. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
- 29Verse 29. “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
- 30Verse 30. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
- 31Verse 31. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.