1The words of Lemuel the king; the burden with which his mother instructed him.
2What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3Do not give your strength to women (ishah), nor your ways to that which wipes out kings.
4Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers, "Where is strong drink?"
5lest he drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the judgment (din) of all the sons of affliction.
6Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter of soul (nephesh).
7Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
8Open your mouth for the mute, for the judgment (din) of all the sons of passing away.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and judge the cause of the poor and needy.
10A woman of valor (eshet chayil), who can find? For far above corals is her worth.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks no spoil.
12She does him good and not evil all the days of her life (chai).
13She seeks wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
14She is like the ships of a merchant; from afar she brings her bread.
15And she rises while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a statute (choq) to her maidens.
16She considers a field and takes it; from the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17She girds her loins with strength, and makes strong her arms.
18She tastes that her merchandise is good; her lamp does not go out in the night.
19Her hands she puts out to the distaff, and her palms grasp the spindle.
20Her palm she spreads to the poor, and her hands she sends out to the needy.
21She is not afraid for her household of snow, for all her household is clothed in scarlet.
22Coverings she makes for herself; fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
24Linen garments she makes and sells, and girdles she gives to the Canaanite.
25Strength and majesty are her clothing, and she laughs at the latter day.
26Her mouth she opens with wisdom, and the Torah of kindness is upon her tongue.
27She watches over the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she does not eat.
28Her sons rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29"Many daughters have done valiantly, but you have gone up above them all."
30Grace is deceit, and beauty is vanity; a woman (ishah) who fears YHWH, she shall be praised.
31Give to her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.