Proverbs 31
1 THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
2 What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum: quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas.
5 Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
Et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
6 Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
7 Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8 Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
9 Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
10 Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
12 She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
14 She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
15 And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
16 She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
18 She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
19 She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
21 She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
22 She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
24 She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
25 Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua eius.
27 She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
28 Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam prædicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
29 Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
31 Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
