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The Words of Lemuel

The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him:

2 What, my son?And what, ason of my womb?And what, son of my bvows?3 aDo not give your strength to women,Or your ways to that which bdestroys kings.4 It is not for akings, Lemuel,It is not for kings to bdrink wine,Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,5 Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,And apervert the 1rights of all the 2needy.6 Give intoxicating drink to one who is aperishing,And wine to one 1bwhose life is bitter.7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,And remember his trouble no more.8 aOpen your mouth for the people who cannot speak,For the 1rights of all the 2unfortunate.9 Open your mouth, ajudge righteously,And 1defend the brights of the poor and needy.
Description of a Worthy Woman
10 An aexcellent wife, who can find her?For her worth is far babove jewels.11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,And he will have no lack of gain.12 She does him good and not evilAll the days of her life.13 She looks for wool and linen,And works with her 1hands 2in delight.14 She is like amerchant ships;She brings her food from afar.15 And she arises while it is still nightAnd bgives food to her household,And 1portions to her attendants.16 She considers a field and buys it;From 1her earnings she plants a vineyard.17 She asurrounds her waist with strengthAnd makes her arms strong.18 She senses that her profit is good;Her lamp does not go out at night.19 She stretches out her hands to the 1distaff,And her 2hands grasp the spindle.20 She 1aextends 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 aclothed with scarlet.22 She makes acoverings for herself;Her clothing is bfine linen and cpurple.23 Her husband is known ain the gates,When he sits among the elders of the land.24 She makes alinen garments and sells them,And 1supplies belts to the 2tradesmen.25 Strength and adignity are her clothing,And she smiles at the 1future.26 She aopens her mouth in wisdom,And the 1teaching of kindness is on her tongue.27 She watches over the activities of her household,And does not eat the abread of idleness.28 Her children rise up and bless her;Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:29 “Many daughters have done nobly,But you excel them all.”30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who 1afears the LORD, she shall be praised.31 Give her the 1product of her hands,And let her works praise her in the gates.
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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.