Proverbs 31
1 The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym.
These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
2 What my derlyng? what the derlyng of my wombe? what the derlyng of my desiris?
What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
3 Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis.
Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
4 A! Lamuel, nyle thou yiue wyn to kingis; for no pryuete is, where drunkenesse regneth.
Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
5 Lest perauenture thei drynke, and foryete domes, and chaunge the cause of the sones of a pore man.
For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
6 Yyue ye sidur to hem that morenen, and wyn to hem that ben of bitter soule.
Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
7 Drinke thei, and foryete thei her nedinesse; and thenke thei no more on her sorewe.
Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
8 Opene thi mouth for a doumb man,
Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
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.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
10 Who schal fynde a stronge womman? the prijs of her is fer, and fro the laste endis.
Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
11 The herte of hir hosebond tristith in hir; and sche schal not haue nede to spuylis.
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
12 Sche schal yelde to hym good, and not yuel, in alle the daies of hir lijf.
She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
13 Sche souyte wolle and flex; and wrouyte bi the counsel of hir hondis.
She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
14 Sche is maad as the schip of a marchaunt, that berith his breed fro fer.
Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
15 And sche roos bi nyyt, and yaf prey to hir meyneals, and metis to hir handmaidis.
She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
16 Sche bihelde a feeld, and bouyte it; of the fruyt of hir hondis sche plauntide a vyner.
She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
17 Sche girde hir leendis with strengthe, and made strong hir arm.
She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
18 Sche taastide, and siy, that hir marchaundie was good; hir lanterne schal not be quenchid in the niyt.
She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Sche putte hir hondis to stronge thingis, and hir fyngris token the spyndil.
She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
20 Sche openyde hir hond to a nedi man, and stretchide forth hir hondis to a pore man.
She's generous to the poor, and gives help 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 doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
22 Sche made to hir a ray cloth; bijs and purpur is the cloth of hir.
She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
23 Hir hosebonde is noble in the yatis, whanne he sittith with the senatours of erthe.
Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
24 Sche made lynnun cloth, and selde; and yaf a girdil to a Chananei.
She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
25 Strengthe and fairnesse is the clothing of hir; and sche schal leiye in the laste dai.
She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
26 Sche openyde hir mouth to wisdom; and the lawe of merci is in hir tunge.
She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
27 Sche bihelde the pathis of hir hous; and sche eet not breed idili.
She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
28 Hir sones risiden, and prechiden hir moost blessid; hir hosebonde roos, and preiside hir.
Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
29 Many douytris gaderiden richessis; thou passidist alle.
“Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
30 Fairnesse is disseiuable grace, and veyn; thilke womman, that dredith the Lord, schal be preisid.
Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
31 Yyue ye to hir of the fruyt of hir hondis; and hir werkis preise hir in the yatis.
Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
