1 GLT The words of Lemuel the king, an oracle that his mother had instructed him: BSB BSB: These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 GLT Why, my son? And why, son of my womb? And why, son of my vows? BSB BSB: What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 GLT Do not give your strength to women or your ways to cause kings to be wiped out. BSB BSB: Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 GLT { It is} not for kings, Lemuel,{ it is} not for kings to drink wine or for dignitaries, or strong drink. 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 GLT Lest, he drink and forget{ what} has been decreed and pervert the cause of all the sons of the afflicted one. BSB BSB: lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 GLT Give strong drink to the perishing one and wine to those bitter of soul. BSB BSB: Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 GLT He will drink and forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble again. BSB BSB: Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 GLT Open your mouth for the mute one, for the legal claim of all the sons of the one passing away. BSB BSB: Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 GLT Open your mouth, judge{ with} righteousness, and plead the cause of the afflicted one and poor one. BSB BSB: Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 GLT A woman of worth, who can find? And her value{ is} far more than corals. BSB BSB: A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 GLT The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will not lack spoil. BSB BSB: The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 GLT She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. BSB BSB: She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 GLT She searches{ for} wool and linens and works with the delight of her palms. BSB BSB: She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 GLT She is like the ships of a merchant; she brings her bread from far away. BSB BSB: She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 GLT And she rises while still night and gives food to her house and a decree to her young women. BSB BSB: She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 GLT She considers a field and gets it; from the fruit of her palms she plants a vineyard. BSB BSB: She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 GLT She girds her loins with strength and she strengthens her arms. BSB BSB: She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 GLT She perceives that her profit{ is} good; her lamp does not go out in the night. BSB BSB: She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 GLT She stretches out her hands at the distaff and her palms grasp the spindle. BSB BSB: She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 GLT She spreads out her palm to the afflicted one, and she stretches out her hands to the poor one. BSB BSB: She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 GLT She does not fear for her house from snow, for all her house is clothed{ with} crimson. BSB BSB: When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 GLT She makes for herself coverings, fine linen and purple for her clothing. BSB BSB: She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 GLT Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land. BSB BSB: Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 GLT She makes a linen garment and sells, and she gives a girdle to the Canaanite. BSB BSB: She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 GLT Strength and splendor{ are} her clothing, and she laughs at a future day. BSB BSB: Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 GLT Her mouth opens with wisdom, and the law of covenant faithfulness{ is} on her tongue. BSB BSB: She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 GLT She scans the goings on of her house, and she does not eat the bread of laziness. BSB BSB: She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 GLT Her sons rise up and call her happy; her husband also praises her. BSB BSB: Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 GLT “Many daughters have done valiantly, but you yourself have ascended over all of them.” BSB BSB: “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 GLT The charm{ is} falsehood and beauty{ is} vapor; a woman fearful of Yahweh, she herself will be praised. BSB BSB: Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 GLT Give to her from the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates. 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.