## A Mother's Oracle 

###### 1
The words of King Lemuel, the oracle _unto_ which his mother disciplined him: 

###### 2
What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows? 

###### 3
Do not give your excellence to women, Or your ways to that which blots out kings. 

###### 4
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, 

###### 5
Lest he drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 

###### 6
Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those whose soul is bitter. 

###### 7
Let him drink and forget his poverty And he will not remember his trouble any longer. 

###### 8
Open your mouth for the mute, For the justice of all those passing away. 

###### 9
Open your mouth, judge righteously, And render justice to the afflicted and needy. 

## A Woman Who Fears Yahweh 

###### 10
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above pearls. 

###### 11
The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. 

###### 12
She deals bountifully with him for good and not evil All the days of her life. 

###### 13
She searches for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. 

###### 14
She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. 

###### 15
And she rises while it is still night, And gives food to her household And a portion to her young women. 

###### 16
She makes plans for a field and buys it; From the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 

###### 17
She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. 

###### 18
She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. 

###### 19
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold fast the spindle. 

###### 20
She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy. 

###### 21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet. 

###### 22
She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 

###### 23
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits with the elders of the land. 

###### 24
She makes linen garments and sells _them_, And gives belts to the tradesmen. 

###### 25
Strength and majesty are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. 

###### 26
She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the instruction of lovingkindness is on her tongue. 

###### 27
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. 

###### 28
Her children rise up and bless her; As for her husband, he also praises her, _saying_: 

###### 29
"Many daughters have done excellently, But you have gone above them all." 

###### 30
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, _But_ a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. 

###### 31
Give to her from the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.