1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Do not give thy strength nor thy ways unto the women who destroy kings.
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor is beer for princes
5 lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give beer unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that have heavy hearts.
7 They drink and forget their need and remember their misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for those who cannot speak in the judgment of all the sons of death.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and destitute.
10 [Aleph] Who can find a valiant woman? for her price [is] far above precious stones.
11 [Beth] The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 [Gimel] She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 [Daleth] She sought wool and flax and worked willingly with her hands.
14 [He] She was like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar.
15 [Vau] She rose up even at night and gave food to her family and a portion to her maidens.
16 [Zain] She considered the inheritance and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.
17 [Cheth] She girded her loins with strength and strengthened her arms.
18 [Teth] She perceived that her merchandise [was] good; her fire did not go out by night.
19 [Jod] She laid her hands to the spindle, and her hands held the distaff.
20 [Caph] She stretched out her hand to the poor; [yea], she reached forth her hands to the destitute.
21 [Lamed] She shall not be afraid of the snow for her family, for all her family [is] clothed with double garments.
22 [Mem] She makes herself tapestries; her clothing [is] of fine linen and purple.
23 [Nun] Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 [Samech] She made fine linen and sold [it] and delivered girdles unto the merchant.
25 [Ain] Strength and glory [is] her clothing, and she shall laugh in the last day.
26 [Pe] She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the law of mercy [is] upon her tongue.
27 [Tzaddi] She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat bread in idleness.
28 [Koph] Her sons rose up and called her blessed; her husband [also], and he praised her.
29 [Resh] Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou dost excel them all.
30 [Schin] Grace [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, [but] the woman that fears the LORD shall be praised.
31 [Tau] Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.: