31 The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle
    that his mother taught him:
² What, my son? And what, my son in my womb?
    And what, son of my vows?
³ Do not give your strength to the women,
    and your ways to destroy kings.
⁴ It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;
    drinking wine is not for the kings,
    nor is strong drink for rulers.
⁵ Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,
    and he will pervert the rights^[a] of all the afflicted.^[b]
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
    and wine to those in bitter distress.^[c]
7 He will drink and forget his poverty,
    and his misery he will not remember any more.
⁸ Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights^[d] of all the needy.^[e]
9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness,
    and defend the poor and needy.

¹⁰ A woman^[g] of excellence,^[h] who will find?
    For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband^[i] trusts in her,
    and gain he will not lack.
¹² She does him good, but not harm
    all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
    and she works with the diligence of her hands.^[j]
14 She is like the ships of a merchant;
    from far off she brings her food;^[k]
15 And she arises while it is still night,
    and gives food to her household,
    and tasks to her servant girls.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it,
    from the fruit of her hand^[l] she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds her waist in strength,
    and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good;
    her lamp does not go out in the night.
¹⁹ Her hands she puts onto the distaff,^[m]
    and her palms hold a spindle.
²⁰ Her palm she opens to the poor,
    and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
²¹ She does not fear for her house when it snows,
    for her entire household^[n] is clothed in crimson.
²² She makes for herself coverings;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband^[o] is known at the gates,
    in his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ Linen garments she makes and sells,
    and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the future.^[p]
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
²⁷ She looks after the ways of her household,
    and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
²⁸ Her children rise and consider her happy,
    her husband^[q] also, and he praises her;
²⁹ “Many daughters have done excellence,^[r]
    but you surpass^[s] all of them.”
³⁰ Charm^[t] is deceit and beauty^[u] is vain;^[v]
    but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
³¹ Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
    and may they praise her works in the city gates.