English Standard Version ESV
New Living Translation NLT
1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
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The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.
2 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?
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O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
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do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,
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It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
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For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;
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Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.
7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
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Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
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Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
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Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
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Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
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Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
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She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
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She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
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She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
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She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
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She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
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She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
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She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
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Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
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She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
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She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
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She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
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Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
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She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
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She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
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When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
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She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
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Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. ”
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“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
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Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
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Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.