3. Don’t give your strength to womenor your power to those who ruin kings.
4. “It is not for kings, Lemuel.It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor.
5. Otherwise, they drink and forget what they have decreedand change the standard of justice for all oppressed people.
6. Give liquor to a person who is dyingand wine to one who feels resentful.
7. Such a person drinksand forgets his povertyand does not remember his trouble anymore.
8. “Speak out for the one who cannot speak,for the rights of those who are doomed.
9. Speak out,judge fairly,and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people.”
10. “Who can find a wife with a strong character?She is worth far more than jewels.
11. Her husband trusts her with ⌊all⌋ his heart,and he does not lack anything good.
12. She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life.
13. “She seeks out wool and linen ⌊with care⌋and works with willing hands.
14. She is like merchant ships.She brings her food from far away.
15. She wakes up while it is still darkand gives food to her familyand portions of food to her female slaves.
16. “She picks out a field and buys it.She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned.