1) Words of King Lemuel. The instruction that his mother taught him:
2) what, my son? what, son of my womb? what, son of my vows?
3) Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to the destroyers of kings.
4) It is not for kings, Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine, and not for princes to drink strong drink,
5) so that, having drunk, they do not forget the law and do not turn the judgments of all the oppressed.
6) Give strong drink to the perishing and wine to the sorrowful soul;
7) let him drink and forget his poverty and no longer remember his suffering.
8) Open your mouth for the voiceless and for the protection of all orphans.
9) Open your mouth for justice and for the cause of the poor and needy.
10) Who will find a virtuous wife? its price is higher than pearls;
11) her husband’s heart is confident in her, and he will not be left without profit;
12) she repays him with good, and not with evil, all the days of her life.
13) He produces wool and flax, and willingly works with his hands.
14) She, like merchant ships, gets her bread from afar.
15) She gets up while it is still night and distributes food in her house and food to her maids.
16) She thinks about a field and acquires it; from the fruit of his hands he plants a vineyard.
17) He girds his loins with strength and strengthens his muscles.
18) She feels that her occupation is good, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19) She stretches out her hands to the spinning wheel, and her fingers take hold of the spindle.
20) She opens her hand to the poor, and gives her hand to the needy.
21) She is not afraid of cold for her family, because her whole family is dressed in double clothing.
22) She makes her own carpets; Fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23) Her husband is known at the gate when he sits with the elders of the land.
24) She makes bedspreads and sells them, and delivers belts to the Phoenician merchants.
25) Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she looks cheerfully at the future.
26) She opens her mouth with wisdom, and gentle instruction is on her tongue.
27) She watches over the management of her house and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28) The children get up and please her, - the husband, and praises her:
29) “There were many virtuous women, but you surpassed them all.”
30) Loveliness is deceptive and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the Lord is worthy of praise.
31) Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her deeds glorify her at the gates!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru