1. The devarim of Lemuel Melech, the massa (burden, oracle) that immo taught him.
2. What, my bar (son, see Ps 2:12)? And what, the bar of my womb? And what, the bar of my nedarim (vows)?
3. Give not thy strength unto nashim, nor thy drakhim to that which destroyeth melachim.
4. It is not for melachim, O Lemuel, it is not for melachim to drink yayin; nor for rulers to crave strong drink;
5. Lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice of the bnei oni (all the oppressed afflicted people).
6. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and yayin unto those that be of bitter nefesh.
7. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his amal (misery) no more.
8. Open thy peh (mouth) for the illem (mute) in the cause of all such as are bnei chalof (sons of destitution).
9. Open thy peh (mouth), judge tzedek, and plead the cause of the oni and the evyon.
10. Who can find an aishes chayil (a woman of valor, an excellent wife Prov 12:4)? For her worth is far above rubies.
11. The lev of her ba'al (husband) doth securely trust in her, so that he shall have no lack of gain.
12. She will do him tov and not rah all the days of her life.
13. She seeketh tzemer (wool), and flax, and worketh willingly with her palms.
14. She is like the oniyyot socher (ship merchant); she bringeth her lechem from afar.
15. She riseth also while it is yet lailah, and provideth food to her bais, and a chok (portion) to her na'arot (servant girls).