Friday 6th January 2023

The Teaching of King Lemuel’s Mother

31The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

² No, my son! No, son of my womb!
   No, son of my vows!
³ Do not give your strength to women,
   your ways to those who destroy kings.
⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
   it is not for kings to drink wine,
   or for rulers to desire^* strong drink;
⁵ or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed,
   and will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
⁶ Give strong drink to one who is perishing,
   and wine to those in bitter distress;
⁷ let them drink and forget their poverty,
   and remember their misery no more.
⁸ Speak out for those who cannot speak,
   for the rights of all the destitute.^*
9 Speak out, judge righteously,
   defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Ode to a Capable Wife

¹⁰ A capable wife who can find?
   She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
   and he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good, and not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
   and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant,
   she brings her food from far away.
¹⁵ She rises while it is still night
   and provides food for her household
   and tasks for her servant-girls.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
   and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
   Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,
   and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor,
   and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
   for all her household are clothed in crimson.
²² She makes herself coverings;
   her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the city gates,
   taking his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
   she supplies the merchant with sashes.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
   and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
   and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household,
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her happy;
   her husband too, and he praises her:
²⁹ ‘Many women have done excellently,
   but you surpass them all.’
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
   but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
   and let her works praise her in the city gates.

NRSV