✧These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: ✧2What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows? ✧3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. ✧4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, ✧5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice. ✧6Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul. ✧7Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. ✧8Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. ✧9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy. ✧10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. ✧11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. ✧12She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.