| 1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him. | |
| 2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows? | |
| 3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings. | |
| 4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth: | |
| 5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor. | |
| 6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind: | |
| 7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more. | |
| 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass. | |
| 9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor. | |
| 10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her. | |
| 11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. | |
| 12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. | |
| 13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. | |
| 14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar. | |
| 15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens. | |
| 16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. | |
| 17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. | |
| 18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. | |
| 19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. | |
| 20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor. | |
| 21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments. | |
| 22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering. | |
| 23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. | |
| 24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. | |
| 25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day. | |
| 26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. | |
| 27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. | |
| 28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her. | |
| 29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all. | |
| 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. | |
| 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates. | |
