| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: | 1The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him: |
| 2What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? | 2O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, |
| 3Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. | 3Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings. |
| 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, | 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, |
| 5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. | 5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and remove from all the poor their legal rights. |
| 6Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; | 6Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitterly distressed; |
| 7let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. | 7let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more. |
| 8Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. | 8Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. |
| 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. | 9Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. |
| 10An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. | 10Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies. |
| 11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. | 11The heart of her husband has confidence in her, and he has no lack of gain. |
| 12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. | 12She brings him good and not evil all the days of her life. |
| 13She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. | 13She obtains wool and flax, and she is pleased to work with her hands. |
| 14She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. | 14She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. |
| 15She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. | 15She also gets up while it is still night, and provides food for her household and a portion to her female servants. |
| 16She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. | 16She considers a field and buys it; from her own income she plants a vineyard. |
| 17She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. | 17She begins her work vigorously, and she strengthens her arms. |
| 18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. | 18She knows that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out in the night. |
| 19She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. | 19Her hands take hold of the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. |
| 20She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. | 20She extends her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy. |
| 21She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. | 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all of her household are clothed with scarlet. |
| 22She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. | 22She makes for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple. |
| 23Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. | 23Her husband is well-known in the city gate when he sits with the elders of the land. |
| 24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. | 24She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. |
| 25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. | 25She is clothed with strength and honor, and she can laugh at the time to come. |
| 26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. | 26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. |
| 27She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. | 27She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. |
| 28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: | 28Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also praises her: |
| 29“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” | 29"Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all!" |
| 30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. | 30Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. |
| 31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. | 31Give her credit for what she has accomplished, and let her works praise her in the city gates. |
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