WeBible

1 - Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2 - `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 - Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

4 - Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

5 - Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6 - Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7 - He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8 - Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9 - Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

10 - A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies <FI>is<Fi> her price.

11 - The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12 - She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13 - She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh <FI>with<Fi> her hands.

14 - She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

15 - Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

16 - She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17 - She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

18 - She hath perceived when her merchandise <FI>is<Fi> good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19 - Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20 - Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

21 - She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed <FI>with<Fi> scarlet.

22 - Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple <FI>are<Fi> her clothing.

23 - Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

24 - Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

25 - Strength and honour <FI>are<Fi> her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

26 - Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness <FI>is<Fi> on her tongue.

27 - She <FI>is<Fi> watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

28 - Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

29 - `Many <FI>are<Fi> the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

30 - The grace <FI>is<Fi> false, and the beauty <FI>is<Fi> vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

31 - Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!