Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.
2 What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei? quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
5 because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
6 Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
7 He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8 Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
9 Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et pauperem.
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
12 She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
13 She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
15 She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
16 She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Consideravit agrum, et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
18 She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
19 She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
20 She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
22 She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
23 Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
Nobilis in portis vir ejus, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus, et ridebit in die novissimo.
26 She opens 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 watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt; vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
29 “Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias; tu supergressa es universas.
30 Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.
