Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.
2 What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei? quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
3 Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
4 Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
5 Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
7 Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et pauperem.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
12 She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
13 She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
14 She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
16 She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Consideravit agrum, et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
17 She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
18 She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
19 She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
20 She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
21 She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
22 Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
23 Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
Nobilis in portis vir ejus, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
24 Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus, et ridebit in die novissimo.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt; vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
29 “Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias; tu supergressa es universas.
30 False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.
