1These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.2What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.6Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul:7Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.8Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.12She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.14She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.15She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.16She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.17She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.18She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable; Her lamp goeth not out by night.19She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.20She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.21When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.22She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.23Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.25Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:29“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.31Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.
Berean Standard Bible (public domain).World English Bible (public domain).King James Version (public domain in the US).American Standard Version, 1901 (public domain).