דִּבְרֵי לְמוּאֵל מֶלֶךְ מַשָּׂא אֲשֶׁר־יִסְּרַתּוּ אִמּוֹ

The words of Lemuel the king, which are the oration, a speech that contains harsh reproof, with which his mother admonished him.

מַה־בְּרִי וּמַה־בַּר־בִּטְנִי וּמֶה בַּר־נְדָרָי

What, my son, and what, son of my womb? You have performed an action of little importance. Alternatively: What is this worthless thing you have done, my son? And what, son of my vows? You were born only thanks to the vows I uttered. Therefore, my speech is not only the reprimand of a mother to her son; rather, it is delivered in a particular context.

אַל־תִּתֵּן לַנָּשִׁים חֵילֶךָ ודְרָכֶיךָ לַמְחוֹת מְלָכִין

Do not give all your strength to loving women, or let your ways rub out advice. Do not allow your personality and behavioral traits to negate sound counsel when it is given to you. One who gives his strength to women thereby negates himself and loses his value. Alternatively, this clause means: Do not give your ways to that which destroys the strength of kings.

אַל לַמְלָכִים לְמוֹאֵל אַל לַמְלָכִים שְׁתוֹ יָיִן ולְרוֹזְנִים אֵי שֵׁכָר

It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine excessively and certainly not to get drunk, or for princes to say: Where is strong drink? It is unbecoming for them to occupy themselves with drinking. This idea that imbibing wine impairs the power and authority of the king appears elsewhere in the Bible as well. Lemuel’s mother warns him against giving in to passing temptations in the form of women and alcohol. Such conduct is especially dangerous for a king, who might thereby lose his strength and forfeit his capacity to perform his leadership role.

פֶּן־יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח מְחֻקָּק וישַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֹנִי

Lest he drink, and forget that which was legislated, the written laws, and also pervert the justice of all the children of the poor, the causes of all the unfortunate members of society. When he is inebriated, the king will not be exact with the particulars, and even if he does not intend to perform an injustice, he will judge hastily and commit errors. In such situations, it is the people on the margins of society who will suffer the most.

תְּנוּ־שֵׁכָר לְאוֹבֵד וְיַיִן לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ

There is no absolute objection here to drinking wine itself, as there are instances where wine is good and beneficial: Give strong drink to the desolate, to the miserable individual who feels that he is wasting away, and giving wine is also suitable to cheer up embittered souls.

יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח רִישׁוֹ ועֲמָלוֹ לֹא יִזְכָּר־עוֹד

Let him, the desolate one or the bitter individual, drink and forget his poverty and his terrible situation, and remember his toil and frustration no more.

פְּתַח־פִּיךָ לְאִלֵּם אֶל־דִּין כָּל־בְּנֵי חֲלוֹף

This verse provides further advice for a king, who also functions as a judge: Open your mouth for the mute, whether he is literally dumb, or simply unable to speak about the matter at hand, such as one at a trial who cannot express himself properly. A righteous judge is obligated to assist those who are incapable of pleading their cases, and act for the judgment for all the fragile, people who have no security and stability and whose claims are liable to be negated by the opposing party. Perhaps they came to the court inadequately prepared, while far more powerful, educated individuals of a higher status sit across from them, and therefore they are stifled. A king must pay careful attention to such a case, and try to redress the balance in favor of the weaker side.

פְּתַח־פִּיךָ שְׁפָט־צֶדֶק ודִין עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן

Open your mouth, rule justly, and judge the poor and indigent. The righteous judge is obliged not only to decide between the competing parties but to examine the matter in detail, and clarify the claims as best he can. Consequently, a king is not permitted to enjoy physical pleasures like any other person, because he must be careful to retain his strength and clarity of mind at all times. Only in this way can he fulfill his task of leading his country and establishing righteous judgment.

אֵשֶׁת־חַיִל מִי יִמְצָא וְרָחֹק מִפְּנִינִים מִכְרָהּ

A woman of valor, a strong woman who successfully performs great tasks, who can find? It is not easy to find such a woman, and far beyond pearls is her value (see commentary on 3:15). She is rarer and more valuable than precious stones.

בָּטַח בָּהּ לֵב בַּעְלָהּ וְשָׁלָל לֹא יֶחְסָר

Her husband’s heart relies on her; he relies upon all her deeds, and he will not lack treasure. He can leave the running of all their household affairs in her trustworthy hands without fear of loss.

גְּמָלַתְהוּ טוֹב וְלֹא־רָע כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיהָ

She bestows only good and not evil upon him, all the days of her life.

דָּרְשָׁה צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים וַתַּעַשׂ בְּחֵפֶץ כַּפֶּיהָ

She herself performs the household tasks properly: She seeks out wool and flax for spinning. In the Bible and the Mishna, spinning wool or flax was a task generally attributed to women. And her hands work willingly; alternatively, this means that she works with good, expert hands.

הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר מִמֶּרְחָק תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ

The woman of valor is not satisfied with sitting passively and fulfilling her basic duties. She is like the merchant ships, which sail great distances to procure goods, bringing her food from afar. She takes initiative, is creative, and travels to bring food to her home.

וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְחֹק לְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ

She arises while still night and provides fare for her household. She takes care to prepare food for the members of her household ahead of time; and she provides a fixed portion to her young women. She gives every one of her maids sufficient provisions for their needs.

זָמְמָה שָׂדֶה וַתִּקָּחֵהוּ מִפְּרִי כַפֶּיהָ נָטְעָ כָּרֶם

In addition to capably managing her household, she considers purchasing a field, and purchases it; with the fruit of her hands, the products of her labor, she plants a vineyard. She does not simply accumulate her profits, nor does she buy jewelry for herself with her earnings. Rather, the fruit of her labor produces enough money for her to procure land and plant a vineyard.

חָגְרָה בְעוֹז מָתְנֶיהָ וַתְּאַמֵּץ זְרוֹעֹתֶיהָ

She girds her loins with might, she acts quickly and decisively, and strengthens her arms. She does not sit idle, but acts constantly with vigor.

טָעֲמָה כִּי־טוֹב סַחְרָהּ לֹא־יִכְבֶּה בַלַּיְלָ נֵרָהּ

She perceives that her merchandise, i.e., the products of her dealings as well as her actions in general, is good; her lamp does not go out at night. After awaking early to care for all the needs of her family, she continues to be active at night, as she always has work that can be done in her home.

יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישׁוֹר וְכַפֶּיהָ תָּמְכוּ פָלֶךְ

She extends her hands to the distaff, and her palms support the spindle, spinning implements. Her hands ensure that the spindle turns in the proper manner.

כַּפָּהּ פָּרְשָׂה לֶעָנִי וְיָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה לָאֶבְיוֹן

Although she herself works, she does not hoard the money she earns to spend on her own pleasures; she is not materialistic. She opens her palm to the poor and extends her hands to the indigent. She provides sustenance to the poor as well.

לֹא־תִירָא לְבֵיתָהּ מִשָּׁלֶג כִּי כָל־בֵּיתָהּ לָבֻשׁ שָׁנִים

Not only does the woman of valor run affairs of the present in the best possible way, she also thinks long term and plans for the future: She does not fear snow, the harshest winter days, for her household, as her entire household is clothed in scarlet wool, which protects them from the cold and also looks beautiful.

מַרְבַדִּים עָשְׂתָה־לָּהּ שֵׁשׁ וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁהּ

She has made coverlets, bedding or linings, for herself; her clothing is fine linen and expensive purple wool. Both beauty and wealth are on display in her home.

נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ עִם־זִקְנֵי־אָרֶץ

But she is not concerned for her own dress alone: Her husband is renowned for his fine appearance at the city gates, the main communal centers, where he sits with the elders of the land, its leaders and dignitaries.

סָדִין עָשְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּר וַחֲגוֹר נָתְנָה לַכְּנַעֲנִי

She makes a linen sheet and sells it; even when she does not need linen garments she fashions them for sale; and she gives a belt, whose preparation is more complicated than simple bedding, to the merchant.Although her main occupation is within the home, and this includes the making of colorful clothing and bedding, she sells any surplus items to outsiders.

עוֹז־וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן

Might and grandeur are her clothing; she wears dignified clothes that are both durable and beautiful; and she laughs and rejoices to the final day of her life. Her garments are not merely for adornment in the present, as everything she makes withstands the test of time and does not get worn out.

פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת־חֶסֶד עַל־לְשׁוֹנָהּ

Beyond her practical capabilities in running the household and her business initiatives for increasing the family income from other sources, she is also a wise, good-hearted woman: She opens her mouth with words of wisdom, and the Torah of kindness is on her tongue. She teaches religious ideas that incorporate love and generosity.

צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ וְלֶחֶם עַצְלוּת לֹא תֹאכֵל

She supervises the proceedings of her household, as she takes care that the house, with all its people and servants, is properly managed, and she does not eat the bread of idleness. She does not simply sit back and enjoy the sight of her servants or family members doing all the work; rather, she prefers to be active herself.

קָמוּ בָנֶיהָ וַיְאַשְּׁרוּהָ בַּעְלָהּ וַיְהַלְלָהּ

Therefore, her children arise and laud her [vayasheruha]; alternatively, they note that she follows the upright [yeshara] path; her husband also rises up, and he praises her with the following declaration:

רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל־כֻּלָּנָה

Many daughters, many women, have performed valiantly, have been successful in one way or another, but you have surpassed them all. You have achieved perfection in all your qualities. You are creative, active, generous, strong, organized, and wise.

שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן והֶבֶל הַיֹּפִי אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת־ה' הִיא תִתְהַלָּל

Her husband and children further state: Grace is falsehood, as one’s appearance can change and disappoint, and beauty is futility, since it eventually wastes away and is lost; but a woman who fears the Lord, when this quality becomes an inherent part of her personality, she will be praised forever. The verse is not rejecting grace and beauty entirely; rather, it is saying that these fine qualities when utilized by themselves can lead one astray, and are transient and unstable.

תְּנוּ־לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶיהָ וִיהַלְלוּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ

Give her from the fruit of her hands. She does not require any external gifts, as she is content to receive the fruit of her labor and the wages of her toil. And may her actions praise her at the gates. She is in no need of praise from afar or honorary titles granted by others. Her own works are her praise.