Verse 1. The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
Verse 2. What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
Verse 3. Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
Verse 4. Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
Verse 5. And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
Verse 6. Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
Verse 7. Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
Verse 8. Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
Verse 9. Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
Verse 10. Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
Verse 11. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
Verse 12. She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
Verse 13. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
Verse 14. She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
Verse 15. And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
Verse 16. She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
Verse 17. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
Verse 18. She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
Verse 19. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
Verse 20. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
Verse 21. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
Verse 22. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
Verse 23. Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
Verse 24. She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
Verse 25. Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
Verse 26. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
Verse 27. She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
Verse 28. Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
Verse 29. Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
Verse 30. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Verse 31. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.