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31:1  The devarim of Lemuel Melech, the massa (burden, oracle) that immo taught him.
31:2  What, my bar (son, see Ps 2:12)? And what, the bar of my womb? And what, the bar of my nedarim (vows)?
31:3  Give not thy strength unto nashim, nor thy drakhim to that which destroyeth melachim.
31:4  It is not for melachim, O Lemuel, it is not for melachim to drink yayin; nor for rulers to crave strong drink;
31:5  Lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice of the bnei oni (all the oppressed afflicted people).
31:6  Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and yayin unto those that be of bitter nefesh.
31:7  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his amal (misery) no more.
31:8  Open thy peh (mouth) for the illem (mute) in the cause of all such as are bnei chalof (sons of destitution).
31:9  Open thy peh (mouth), judge tzedek, and plead the cause of the oni and the evyon.
31:10  Who can find an aishes chayil (a woman of valor, an excellent wife Prov 12:4)? For her worth is far above rubies.
31:11  The lev of her ba’al (husband) doth securely trust in her, so that he shall have no lack of gain.
31:12  She will do him tov and not rah all the days of her life.
31:13  She seeketh tzemer (wool), and flax, and worketh willingly with her palms.
31:14  She is like the oniyyot socher (ship merchant); she bringeth her lechem from afar.
31:15  She riseth also while it is yet lailah, and provideth food to her bais, and a chok (portion) to her na’arot (servant girls).
31:16  She considereth a sadeh, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her palms she planteth a kerem (vineyard).
31:17  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her zero’ot (arms).
31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is tov; her ner (light) goeth not out balailah.
31:19  She layeth her yadayim to the distaff, and her fingers lay hold of the spindle.
31:20  She extends her palms to the oni; indeed, she reacheth forth her yadayim to the evyon (needy).
31:21  She is not afraid of the sheleg (snow) for her bais; for all her bais are clothed with scarlet.
31:22  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her levush (clothing) is fine linen and purple.
31:23  Her ba’al (husband) is known in the she’arim, when he sitteth among the ziknei eretz.
31:24  She maketh fine garments, and selleth them; and delivereth sashes unto the kena’ani (merchant).
31:25  Oz (strength) and hadar (dignity) are her clothing; and her smile is toward the yom acharon (coming day, future).
31:26  She openeth her peh (mouth) with chochmah; and on her lashon is the torat chesed (teaching of kindness).
31:27  She watcheth well over the halichot (goings, ways) of her bais (household), and eateth not the lechem atzlut (bread of idleness).
31:28  Her banim rise up, and call her blessed; her ba’al (husband) also, and he praiseth her.
31:29  Rabbot banot have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
31:30  Chen (charm) is sheker (deceitful), and yofi (beauty) is fleeting; but an isha Yirat Hashem (a G-d fearing wife), she shall be praised.
31:31  Give her of the p’ri (fruit) of her yadayim; and let her own ma’asim praise her in the she’arim.