The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
1Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm, nkɔmhyɛ a ne maame kyerɛkyerɛɛ no.Under pastoral review
2Ɛdeɛn, me ba? na ɛdeɛn, me yafunu ba? na ɛdeɛn, me bɔhyɛ ba?Under pastoral review
3Mma mmaa w'ahoɔden, na mma deɛ ɛsɛe ahene w'akwan.Under pastoral review
4Ɛnfata ahene, Lemuel, ɛnfata ahene sɛ wɔbɛnom nsã; na ɛnfata mmapɔmma sɛ wɔbɛnom nsaden:Under pastoral review
5Sɛdeɛ wɔrennom, na wɔn werɛ amfiri mmara, na wɔankyea abrɛfoɔ biara atemmuo.Under pastoral review
6Fa nsaden ma deɛ ɔreyera, ne nsã ma wɔn a awerɛhoɔ ahyɛ wɔn akoma ma.Under pastoral review
7Ma ɔnnom, na ne werɛ mfiri ne hia, na ɔnnkae n'amanehunu bio.Under pastoral review
8Bue w'ano ma mumu, wɔ wɔn a wɔahyɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnsɛe wɔn nyinaa asɛm mu.Under pastoral review
9Bue w'ano, bu atɛntenenee, na di ahiafoɔ ne mmɔborɔfoɔ asɛm ma wɔn.Under pastoral review
10Hwan na ɔbɛtumi ahunu ɔbaa a ɔwɔ suban pa? ɛfiri sɛ ne boɔ sene abohemaa koraa.Under pastoral review
11Ne kunu akoma de ne ho to no so dwoodwoo, enti asadeɛ ho renhia no.Under pastoral review
12Ɔbɛyɛ no papa na ɛnyɛ bɔne ne nkwa nna nyinaa mu.Under pastoral review
13Ɔhwehwɛ odwannwi, ne serekye, na ɔde ne nsa yɛ adwuma anigyeɛ so.Under pastoral review
14Ɔte sɛ adwadifoɔ ahyɛn; ɔde n'aduane firi akyirikyiri ba.Under pastoral review
15Ɔsɔre bere a adeɛ nnsaeɛ, na ɔma ne fiefoɔ aduane, ne ne mmaawa kyɛfa.Under pastoral review
16Ɔsusu afuo bi ho, na ɔtɔ: ɔde ne nsa ano aba dua bobefuo.Under pastoral review
17Ɔde ahoɔden bɔ n'asen mu, na ɔhyɛ n'abasa den.Under pastoral review
18Ɔhunu sɛ n'adwadideɛ yɛ papa: ne kanea nndum anadwo.Under pastoral review
19Ɔde ne nsa to asaawa dua so, na ne nsa kura asaawa poma mu.Under pastoral review
20Ɔtene ne nsa ma ohiani; aane, ɔtene ne nsa ma mmɔborɔfoɔ.Under pastoral review
21Ɔnsuro sukyerɛmma mma ne fiefoɔ: ɛfiri sɛ ne fiefoɔ nyinaa hyɛ ntadeɛ kɔkɔɔ.Under pastoral review
22Ɔyɛ nkatasoɔ a wɔadi mu adwini ma ne ho; ne ntadeɛ yɛ serekye pa ne beredum.Under pastoral review
23Wɔhunu ne kunu wɔ apono ano, ɛberɛ a ɔte asase no mu mpanyimfoɔ mu.Under pastoral review
24Ɔyɛ serekye pa, na ɔtɔn; na ɔde abɔwomu ma ɔdwadifoɔ.Under pastoral review
25Ahoɔden ne animuonyam yɛ n'atadeɛ; na ɔbɛsere daakye.Under pastoral review
26Ɔde nyansa bue n'ano; na ayamyeɛ mmara wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.Under pastoral review
27Ɔhwɛ ne fiefoɔ akwan yie, na ɔnnni aniha aduane.Under pastoral review
28Ne mma sɔre, na wɔka sɛ nhyira nka no; ne kunu nso, na ɔkamfo no.Under pastoral review
29Mmammaa pii ayɛ nneɛma pa, nanso wo deɛ, wosene wɔn nyinaa.Under pastoral review
30Adom yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ yɛ ahuhudeɛ: nanso ɔbaa a ɔsuro AWURADE no, wɔbɛkamfo no.Under pastoral review
31Fa ne nsa ano aba ma no; na ma n'ankasa ne nnwuma nkamfo no wɔ apono ano.Under pastoral review