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A Mother’s Oracle

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

2 What, O my son?And what, O ason of my womb?And what, O son of my bvows?3 aDo not give your excellence to women,Or your ways to that which bblots out kings.4 It is not for akings, O Lemuel,It is not for kings to bdrink wine,Or for rulers to desire strong drink,5 Lest he drink and forget what is decreed,And apervert the justice of all the 1afflicted.6 Give strong drink to him who is aperishing,And wine to those bwhose soul is bitter.7 Let him drink and forget his povertyAnd he will not remember his trouble any longer.8 aOpen your mouth for the mute,For the justice of all those 1passing away.9 Open your mouth, ajudge righteously,And render bjustice to the afflicted and needy.
A Woman Who Fears Yahweh
א — Aleph
10 1An aexcellent wife, who can find?For her worth is far babove pearls.
ב — Beth
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,And he will have no lack of gain.
ג — Gimel
12 She deals bountifully with him for good and not evilAll the days of her life.
ד — Daleth
13 She searches for wool and flaxAnd works with her 1hands 2in delight.
ה — He
14 She is like amerchant ships;She brings her food from afar.
ו — Vav
15 And she arises while it is still night,And bgives 1food to her householdAnd a 2portion to her young women.
ז — Zayin
16 She makes plans for a field and buys it;From the fruit of her 1hands she plants a vineyard.
ח — Heth
17 She agirds 1herself with strengthAnd makes her arms strong.
ט — Teth
18 She senses that her gain is good;Her lamp does not go out at night.
י — Yodh
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,And her 1hands hold fast the spindle.
כ — Kaph
20 She 1aextends her hand to the poor,And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
ל — Lamedh
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,For all her household are aclothed with scarlet.
מ — Mem
22 She makes acoverings for herself;Her clothing is bfine linen and cpurple.
נ — Nun
23 Her husband is known ain the gates,When he sits with the elders of the land.
ס — Samekh
24 She makes alinen garments and sells them,And gives belts to the 1tradesmen.
ע — Ayin
25 Strength and amajesty are her clothing,And she smiles at the 1future.
פ — Pe
26 She aopens her mouth in wisdom,And the 1instruction of lovingkindness is on her tongue.
צ — Tsadhe
27 She watches over the ways of her household,And does not eat the abread of 1idleness.
ק — Qoph
28 Her children rise up and bless her;As for her husband, he also praises her, saying:
ר — Resh
29 “Many daughters have done excellently,But you have gone above them all.”
ש — Shin
30 1Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who 2afears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
ת — Tav
31 Give to her from the fruit of her hands,And let her works praise her in the gates.
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