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[1] The words of king Lemuel: The prophecy which his mother taught him.
[2] What my son! And what the son of my womb! And what, O son of my desires!
[3] Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways, which is to destroy kings.
[4] It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink,
[5] Lest he drink, and forget the decree, and change the judgment of all the children of affliction.
[6] Give ye strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto them that have grief of heart.
[7] Let him drink, that he may forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
[8] Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all the children of destruction.
[9] Open thy mouth: judge righteously, and judge the afflicted, and the poor.
[10] Who shall find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above the pearls.
[11] The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoil.
[12] She will do him good, and not evil all the days of her life.
[13] She seeketh wool and flax, and laboreth cheerfully with her hands.
[14] She is like the ships of merchants: she bringeth her food from afar.
[15] And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giveth the portion to her household, and the ordinary to her maids.
[16] She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
[17] She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
[18] She feeleth that her merchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
[19] She putteth her hands to the wheel, and her hands handle the spindle.
[20] She stretcheth out her hand to the poor, and putteth forth her hands to the needy.
[21] She feareth not the snow for her family: for all her family is clothed with scarlet.
[22] She maketh herself carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
[23] Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
[24] She maketh sheets, and selleth them, and giveth girdles unto the merchant.
[25] Strength and honor is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall rejoice.
[26] She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of grace is in her tongue.
[27] She overseeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
[28] Her children rise up, and call her blessed: her husband also shall praise her, saying,
[29] Many daughters have done virtuously: but thou surmountest them all.
[30] Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vanity: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
[31] Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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