Eshet Chayil (or Aishes Chayil or אשת חיל) means “woman of valor.” It is from chapter 31 of Proverbs, which praises the woman. Each line begins with another letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. It is traditionally sung on Friday night, after the Shalom Aleichem hymn, in which angels are welcomed to our homes. It is followed by Kiddush and the Shabbat feast.

Read: Why Sing Eishet Chayil on Friday Night

Hebrew Lyrics with Translation:

A woman of valor, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her value.
Her husband's heart trusts in her and he shall lack no fortune.

אֵשֶׁת חַֽיִל מִי יִמְצָא, וְרָחֹק מִפְּנִינִים מִכְרָהּ.
בָּֽטַח בָּהּ לֵב בַּעְלָהּ, וְשָׁלָל לֹא יֶחְסָר.

She repays his good, but never his harm, all the days of her life.
She seeks out wool and linen, and her hands work willingly.

גְּמָלַֽתְהוּ טוֹב וְלֹא רָע, כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיהָ.
דָּרְשָֽׁה צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים, וַתַּֽעַשׂ בְּחֵפֶץ כַּפֶּיהָ.

She is like a merchant's ships; from afar she brings her sustenance.
She rises while it is still nighttime, and gives food to her household and a ration to her maids.

הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר, מִמֶּרְחָק תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ.
וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה, וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְחֹק לְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ.

She considers a field and buys it; from the fruit of her handiwork she plants a vineyard.
She girds her loins with might and strengthens her arms.

זָמְמָה שָׂדֶה וַתִּקָּחֵהוּ, מִפְּרִי כַפֶּיהָ נָטְעָה כָּֽרֶם.
חָגְרָה בְעוֹז מָתְנֶיהָ, וַתְּאַמֵּץ זְרוֹעֹתֶיהָ.

She senses that her enterprise is good, so her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She puts her hand to the distaff, and her palms support the spindle.

טָֽעֲמָה כִּי טוֹב סַחְרָהּ, לֹא יִכְבֶּה בַלַּֽיְלָה נֵרָהּ.
יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישׁוֹר, וְכַפֶּיהָ תָּֽמְכוּ פָֽלֶך.

She spreads out her palm to the poor and extends her hands to the destitute.
She fears not snow for her household, for her entire household is clothed with scarlet wool.

כַּפָּהּ פָּרְשָֹה לֶעָנִי, וְיָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה לָאֶבְיוֹן.
לֹא תִירָא לְבֵיתָהּ מִשָּֽׁלֶג, כִּי כָל־בֵּיתָהּ לָבֻשׁ שָׁנִים.

Bedspreads she makes herself; linen and purple wool are her clothing.
Well-known at the gates is her husband as he sits with the elders of the land.

מַרְבַדִּים עָשְׂתָה־לָּהּ, שֵׁשׁ וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁהּ.
נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ, בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ עִם זִקְנֵי־אָרֶץ.

Garments she makes and sells, and she delivers a belt to the peddler.
Strength and splendor are her clothing, and smilingly she awaits her last day.

סָדִין עָשְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּר, וַחֲגוֹר נָתְנָה לַכְּנַעֲנִי.
עוֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ, וַתִּשׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן.

She opens her mouth with Wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She anticipates the needs of her household, and the bread of idleness, she does not eat.

פִּֽיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה, וְתֽוֹרַת חֶֽסֶד עַל לְשׁוֹנָהּ.
צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ, וְלֶֽחֶם עַצְלוּת לֹא תֹאכֵל.

Her children rise and celebrate her; and her husband, he praises her:
"Many daughters have attained valor, but you have surpassed them all."

קָמוּ בָנֶֽיהָ וַיְּאַשְּׁרֽוּהָ, בַּעְלָהּ וַיְהַלְלָהּ.
רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָֽשׂוּ חָֽיִל, וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה.

False is grace, and vain is beauty; a G‑d-fearing woman, she should be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and she will be praised at the gates by her very own deeds.

שֶֽׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶֽבֶל הַיֹּֽפִי, אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת ה׳ הִיא תִתְהַלָּל.
תְּנוּ לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶֽיהָ, וִיהַלְלֽוּהָ בַּשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶֽׂיהָ.

Transliteration:

Ay-sheht khah-yeel mee yeem-tzah vi-rah-khohk mee-pnee-neem meekh-rah.
Bah-takh bah layv bah-lah vi-shah-lahl loh yekh-sahr.

Gi-mah-laht-hoo tohv vi-loh rah kohl yi-may khah-yeh-hah.
Dahr-shah tzeh-mehr oo-feesh-teem vah-tah-ahs bi-khay-fehtz kah-peh-hah.

Hai-tah kah-ah-nee-oht soh-khayr mee-mehr-khahk tah-vee lah-khmah.
Vah-tah-kahm bohd lai-lah vah-tee-tayn teh-rehf li-vay-tah vi-khohk li-nah-roh-teh-hah.

Zahm-mah sah-deh vah-tee-kah-khay-hoo mee-pree khah-peh-hah nah-tah kah-rehm.
Khahg-rah vohz maht-neh-hah vah-tah-maytz zi-roh-oh-teh-hah.

Tah-ah-mah kee tohv sah-khrah loh yeekh-beh vah-lai-lah nay-rah.
Yah-deh-hah sheel-khah vah-kee-shohr vi-khah-peh-hah tahm-khoo fah-lekh.

Kah-pah pahr-sah leh-ah-nee vi-yah-deh-hah sheel-khah lah-ehv-yohn.
Loh tee-rah li-vay-tah mee-shah-lehg kee khohl bay-tah lah-voosh shah-neem.

Mahr-vah-deem ah-stah lah shesh vahr-gah-mahn li-voo-shah.
Noh-dah bah-sׁah-reem bah-lah bi-sheev-toh eem zeek-nay ah-rehtz.

Sah-deen ah-stah vah-teem-kohr vah-khah-gohr naht-nah lahk-nah-ah-nee.
Ohz vi-hah-dahr li-voo-shah-h vah-tee-skhahk li-yohm ah-khah-rohn.

Pee-hah paht-khah vi-khah-khmah vi-toh-raht kheh-sehd ahl li-shoh-nah.
Tzoh-fee-ah hah-lee-khoht bay-tah vi-leh-khehm ah-tzloot loh toh-khayl.

Kah-moo vah-neh-hah vah-yah-shroo-hah bah-lah vah-yi-hah-li-lah.
Rah-boht bah-noht ah-soo khah-yeel vaht ah-leet ahl khoo-lah-nah.

Sheh-kehr hah-khayn vi-heh-vehl hah-yoh-fee ee-shah yee-raht ah-doh-nai hee teet-hah-lahl.
Ti-noo lah mee-pree yah-deh-hah vee-hah-li-loo-hah bah-shah-reem mah-ah-seh-hah.