Proverbs 31
1 The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym.
The words of king Lemuel; the burden wherewith his mother corrected him.
2 What my derlyng? what the derlyng of my wombe? what the derlyng of my desiris?
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 A! Lamuel, nyle thou yiue wyn to kingis; for no pryuete is, where drunkenesse regneth.
It is not for kings, O 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 that which is decreed, and pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
6 Yyue ye sidur to hem that morenen, and wyn to hem that ben of bitter soule.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto 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 thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
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 thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who schal fynde a stronge womman? the prijs of her is fer, and fro the laste endis.
A woman of valour who can find? for her price 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 doth safely trust in her, and he hath no lack of gain.
12 Sche schal yelde to hym good, and not yuel, in alle the daies of hir lijf.
She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 Sche souyte wolle and flex; and wrouyte bi the counsel of hir hondis.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly 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 bringeth her food from afar.
15 And sche roos bi nyyt, and yaf prey to hir meyneals, and metis to hir handmaidis.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 Sche bihelde a feeld, and bouyte it; of the fruyt of hir hondis sche plauntide a vyner.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Sche girde hir leendis with strengthe, and made strong hir arm.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 Sche taastide, and siy, that hir marchaundie was good; hir lanterne schal not be quenchid in the niyt.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Sche putte hir hondis to stronge thingis, and hir fyngris token the spyndil.
She layeth 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 stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth 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 maketh for herself coverlets; 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 known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 Sche made lynnun cloth, and selde; and yaf a girdil to a Chananei.
She maketh linen garments and selleth them; and delivereth girdles unto 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; and she laugheth at the time to come.
26 Sche openyde hir mouth to wisdom; and the lawe of merci is in hir tunge.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Sche bihelde the pathis of hir hous; and sche eet not breed idili.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not 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, and he praiseth her:
29 Many douytris gaderiden richessis; thou passidist alle.
'Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou excellest them all.'
30 Fairnesse is disseiuable grace, and veyn; thilke womman, that dredith the Lord, schal be preisid.
Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth 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; and let her works praise her in the gates.
