31 The words of Lem′u·el* the king, the weighty message+ that his mother gave to him in correction:+

² What [am I saying], O son of mine,* and what, O son of my belly,+ and what, O son of my vows?+

³ Do not give your vital energy to women,+ nor your ways to [what leads to] wiping out kings.+

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lem′u·el, it is not for kings to drink wine or for high officials [to say:] “Where is intoxicating liquor?”+ ⁵ that one may not drink and forget what is decreed and pervert the cause of any of the sons of affliction.+ ⁶ Give intoxicating liquor, YOU people, to the one about to perish+ and wine to those who are bitter of soul.+ ⁷ Let one drink and forget one’s poverty, and let one remember one’s own trouble no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the speechless one,+ in the cause of all those passing away.*+ ⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously and plead the cause of the afflicted one and the poor one.+

¹⁰ A capable wife who can find?+ Her value is far more than that of corals.

¹¹ In her the heart of her owner* has put trust, and there is no gain lacking.+

¹² She has rewarded him with good, and not bad, all the days of her life.+

¹³ She has sought wool and linen, and she works at whatever is the delight of her hands.+

¹⁴ She has proved to be like the ships of a merchant.+ From far away she brings in her food.*

¹⁵ She also gets up while it is still night,+ and gives food* to her household and the prescribed portion to her young women.+

¹⁶ She has considered a field and proceeded to obtain it;+ from the fruitage of her hands she has planted a vineyard.+

¹⁷ She has girded her hips with strength, and she invigorates her arms.+

¹⁸ She has sensed that her trading is good; her lamp does not go out at night.+

¹⁹ Her hands she has thrust out to the distaff, and her own hands take hold of the spindle.+

²⁰ Her palm she has stretched out to the afflicted one, and her hands she has thrust out to the poor one.+

²¹ She does not fear for her household because of the snow, for all her household are clothed with double garments.*+

²² Coverlets+ she has made for herself. Her clothing is of linen and wool dyed reddish purple.+

²³ Her owner+ is someone known in the gates,+ when he sits down with the older men* of the land.

²⁴ She has made even undergarments+ and proceeded to sell [them], and belts she has given to the tradesmen.

²⁵ Strength and splendor are her clothing,+ and she laughs at a future day.+

²⁶ Her mouth she has opened in wisdom,+ and the law of loving-kindness* is upon her tongue.+

²⁷ She is watching over the goings-on of her household, and the bread of laziness* she does not eat.+

²⁸ Her sons have risen up and proceeded to pronounce her happy;+ her owner [rises up], and he praises her.+

²⁹ There are many daughters+ that have shown capableness, but you—you have ascended above them all.+

³⁰ Charm may be false,+ and prettiness may be vain;+ [but] the woman that fears Jehovah is the one that procures praise for herself.+

³¹ GIVE her of the fruitage of her hands,+ and let her works praise her even in the gates.*+