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