1 ARST { These are} the sayings of King Lemuel; Yahweh had spoken these sayings that his mother had taught him: BSB BSB: These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 ARST My son, whom I gave birth to and whom I vowed{ to dedicate to Yahweh}, listen to me! BSB BSB: What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 ARST Do not exhaust yourself by having sex with women; they can destroy kings. BSB BSB: Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 ARST Lemuel, kings should certainly not drink wine, and rulers should not want to drink what can intoxicate{ them}.” BSB BSB: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 ARST If they do so, then they might forget the laws{ that they have made} and prevent all suffering people from getting what they legally deserve. BSB BSB: lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 ARST Let dying people drink what can intoxicate{ them}, and let miserable people drink wine. BSB BSB: Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 ARST They can drink{ what can intoxicate them} to forget that they are poor and to completely forget what troubles them. BSB BSB: Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 ARST Defend those who cannot speak{ for themselves};{ defend} all those who are dying so that they get what they legally deserve. BSB BSB: Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 ARST Defend, judge rightly, and plead for suffering and poor people to get what they legally deserve. BSB BSB: Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 ARST Virtuous and capable women are difficult to find! This kind of woman is more valuable than precious jewels. BSB BSB: A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 ARST Her husband completely trusts her, and he will always gain many things{ because of her}. BSB BSB: The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 ARST Such a woman benefits her husband for as long as she lives. BSB BSB: She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 ARST She gets materials to make warm and cool clothing, and she enjoys making that clothing. BSB BSB: She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 ARST She is like merchant ships because she brings her food to her home from distant places. BSB BSB: She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 ARST She gets up before dawn in order to prepare food for her family and some{ food} for her female servants. BSB BSB: She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 ARST She buys a field after planning carefully. She uses some of what she earned by working to plant a vineyard. BSB BSB: She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 ARST She vigorously prepares herself to work hard, and she makes her arms strong{ by working hard}. BSB BSB: She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 ARST She knows that what she does is very profitable. She works late into the night. BSB BSB: She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 ARST She makes thread{ for clothing} with her own hands. BSB BSB: She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 ARST She helps poor people and suffering people. BSB BSB: She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 ARST She is not worried that her family will be cold during cold weather because her whole family has the best warm clothing. BSB BSB: When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 ARST She makes her own blankets to cover beds. She wears clothing made from expensive cloth. BSB BSB: She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 ARST People respect such a woman’ s husband at the{ city} gates, and he sits{ there} with the{ other} leaders of the city. BSB BSB: Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 ARST This woman makes clothing and sells it. She also sells belts to merchants. BSB BSB: She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 ARST People notice how strong and dignified she is, and she is cheerful about what will happen in the future. BSB BSB: Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 ARST She speaks wisely, and when she speaks, she teaches{ others} to be faithfully kind. BSB BSB: She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 ARST She carefully watches what happens in her household, and she is never lazy. BSB BSB: She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 ARST This woman’ s children stand respectfully and declare that she lives happily. Her husband says good things about her as well. BSB BSB: Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 ARST He says to her,“Many women have acted virtuously and capably, but you indeed have done better than them all!” BSB BSB: “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 ARST Charming women{ who are not good} can deceive people into thinking that they are good, and beautiful women will not remain beautiful forever. However, people will praise those women who reverently fear Yahweh. BSB BSB: Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 ARST Give to such women what they have earned, and praise them publicly for what they have done. BSB BSB: Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.