Proverbs 31
1 The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym.
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2 What my derlyng? what the derlyng of my wombe? what the derlyng of my desiris?
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3 Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis.
Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 A! Lamuel, nyle thou yiue wyn to kingis; for no pryuete is, where drunkenesse regneth.
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5 Lest perauenture thei drynke, and foryete domes, and chaunge the cause of the sones of a pore man.
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6 Yyue ye sidur to hem that morenen, and wyn to hem that ben of bitter soule.
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Drinke thei, and foryete thei her nedinesse; and thenke thei no more on her sorewe.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Opene thi mouth for a doumb man,
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 and opene thi mouth for the causes of alle sones that passen forth. Deme thou that that is iust, and deme thou a nedi man and a pore man.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10 Who schal fynde a stronge womman? the prijs of her is fer, and fro the laste endis.
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
11 The herte of hir hosebond tristith in hir; and sche schal not haue nede to spuylis.
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 Sche schal yelde to hym good, and not yuel, in alle the daies of hir lijf.
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 Sche souyte wolle and flex; and wrouyte bi the counsel of hir hondis.
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14 Sche is maad as the schip of a marchaunt, that berith his breed fro fer.
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15 And sche roos bi nyyt, and yaf prey to hir meyneals, and metis to hir handmaidis.
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16 Sche bihelde a feeld, and bouyte it; of the fruyt of hir hondis sche plauntide a vyner.
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 Sche girde hir leendis with strengthe, and made strong hir arm.
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 Sche taastide, and siy, that hir marchaundie was good; hir lanterne schal not be quenchid in the niyt.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out by night.
19 Sche putte hir hondis to stronge thingis, and hir fyngris token the spyndil.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Sche openyde hir hond to a nedi man, and stretchide forth hir hondis to a pore man.
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 Sche schal not drede for hir hous of the cooldis of snow; for alle hir meyneals ben clothid with double clothis.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Sche made to hir a ray cloth; bijs and purpur is the cloth of hir.
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Hir hosebonde is noble in the yatis, whanne he sittith with the senatours of erthe.
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Sche made lynnun cloth, and selde; and yaf a girdil to a Chananei.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strengthe and fairnesse is the clothing of hir; and sche schal leiye in the laste dai.
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 Sche openyde hir mouth to wisdom; and the lawe of merci is in hir tunge.
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 Sche bihelde the pathis of hir hous; and sche eet not breed idili.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Hir sones risiden, and prechiden hir moost blessid; hir hosebonde roos, and preiside hir.
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 Many douytris gaderiden richessis; thou passidist alle.
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30 Fairnesse is disseiuable grace, and veyn; thilke womman, that dredith the Lord, schal be preisid.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Yyue ye to hir of the fruyt of hir hondis; and hir werkis preise hir in the yatis.
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
