Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum: quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas.
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5 Et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua eius.
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam prædicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
