Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.
2 What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei? quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
3 Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
4 Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
5 For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
6 Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
7 Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8 Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et pauperem.
10 Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
11 Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
12 She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
13 She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
14 Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
15 She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
16 She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
Consideravit agrum, et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
17 She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
18 She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
19 She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
20 She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
21 She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
22 She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
23 Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
Nobilis in portis vir ejus, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
24 She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
25 She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus, et ridebit in die novissimo.
26 She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.
27 She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
28 Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt; vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
29 “Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias; tu supergressa es universas.
30 Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
31 Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.
