The words of king Lemu᾽el, the prophecy, that his mother taught him.

The words [dedicated] to G-d, [uttered by] the king [(Solomon)], the burden [of the reproof] wherewith his mother chastised him [for his indulgences].

What, my son? and what, son of my womb? and what, son of my vows?

What [did you do that make people call you (pejoratively)] my son [and not the son of your father (an acknowledged tzaddik)]? And what [did you do], the son of my womb? [i.e., the son whom I nurtured in my womb (with additional intercourse, so that he be "whitened and quickened")] And what [did you do], the son of my vows [(whom I vowed would be "whitened" in Torah)]?

Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to those who destroy kings.

Give not your strength to women [i.e., do not dissipate your strength.] And [conduct not] your ways [in such a manner as] to destroy [the mores] of kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemu᾽el, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?

It is not [right] for kings who [belong] to the L-rd — it is not right for [such] kings — to drink [much] wine, and for [such] princes to imbibe strong drink.

Lest he drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Lest he drink and forget the statute [of the Torah] and [(even worse)] change the law of all the sons of poverty [i.e., the natural law of the meanest of men].

Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those of heavy hearts.

Give strong drink to the lost [i.e., to the wicked, who are destined to go lost], and wine to the bitter of soul [(those afflicted in their poverty or in their mourning)].

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

[For when] he drinks, he will forget his poverty and will no more remember his travail.

Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Open your mouth for him who cannot speak [in his own defense], in [behalf of] the judgment of all the sons [whose help] has departed [i.e., orphans].

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and [obtain] justice for the poor and unfortunate.

Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.

Who can find the woman of valor? Far more than pearls is her worth.

The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, and he shall have no lack of gain.

The heart of her husband is secure in her, and he will not lack spoil [i.e., good].

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She returns him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands.

She seeks wool and flax and does all with willing palms.

She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.

She is like the ships of merchants; she brings her bread from afar.

She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

And she arises when it is yet night and prepares food for her household and the allotment of her young maidens.

She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She thinks [to obtain] a field, and she possesses it; from the fruit [i.e., the work] of her palms, she plants a vineyard.

She girds her loins with strength, and she makes her arms strong.

She girds her loins with might and strengthens her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle does not go out by night.

[When] she takes counsel [with herself, judging] that her commerce is gainful, her candle is not extinguished at night.

She lays her hands to the distaff, and her palms hold the spindle.

She sends her hands to the distaff and her palms hold the spindle.

She stretches out her palm to the poor; yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.

Her palm is spread open to the poor man, and she stretches forth her hand to the unfortunate one.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She does not fear the snow [i.e., the cold] for [those of] her household, for all of her household is clothed in multi [-colored garments].

She makes herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She has made [beautiful] spreads for herself; she has clothed herself in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

Her husband is distinguished [(from his friends by his fine clothing)] in the [city] gates, sitting among the elders of the land.

She makes garments, and sells them; and delivers girdles to the merchant.

She makes linens and sells them, and she gives a sash to the merchant.

Strength and dignity are her clothing; and she laughs at the time to come.

Strength and glory are her vestments, and she has wrought unto [her] last day [i.e., the day of her death (that it be crowned with a good name)].

She opens her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is a Tora of steadfast love.

She opens her mouth in wisdom and the Torah of lovingkindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

She looks to the ways of [those of] her house [(that they conduct themselves truthfully and modestly)], and she does not eat the bread of indolence.

Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

Her children have risen and praised her; her husband, and extolled her, [saying]:

many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Many women have done valorously, but you have risen above all of them.

Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Favor is false, and beauty, vain; the G-d-fearing woman, she is to be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her deeds praise her in the gates.

Render her the fruit of her hands [i.e., the reward of her works], and let her deeds extol her in the [city] gates. [(Thus far, the figure [melitzah]; the analogue [mashal] is Torah)].