Chapter text
World English Bible
Verse-by-verse text with stable anchors, canonical chapter URLs, and copyable verse links.
- 1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
- 2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
- 3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
- 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
- 5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
- 6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
- 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
- 8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
- 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
- 10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
- 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
- 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
- 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
- 14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
- 15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
- 16 She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
- 17 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
- 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
- 19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
- 20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
- 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
- 22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
- 23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
- 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
- 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
- 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
- 27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
- 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
- 29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
- 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
- 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!