New Living Translation NLT
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.
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Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
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`What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
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Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.
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Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5 For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.
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Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.
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Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.
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He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
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Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
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Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
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A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
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The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
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She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
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She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.
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She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
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Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
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She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
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She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.
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She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
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Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
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Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.
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She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
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Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.
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Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
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Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
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Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
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Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
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She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
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Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
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`Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.
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The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
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Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!