2. What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3. Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to wiping away sovereigns.
4. Not for sovereigns, O Lemu’ĕl, Not for sovereigns to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;
5. Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the right of all the afflicted.
6. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those embittered in being.
7. Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his trouble no more.
8. Open your mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all the sons of the departed.
9. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10. Who does find a capable wife? For she is worth far more than rubies.
11. The heart of her husband shall trust her, And he has no lack of gain.
12. She shall do him good, and not evil, All the days of her life.
13. She shall seek wool and flax, And with delight she works with her hands.
14. She shall be as the ships of Tarshish, She brings in her food from afar.
15. She also rises while it is still night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her girls.
16. She shall consider a field and buy it; From her profits she shall plant a vineyard.
17. She shall gird herself with strength, And strengthen her arms.
18. She shall taste when her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out by night.
19. She shall stretch out her hands to the distaff, And her hand shall hold the spindle.