Proverbs 31
1 The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym.
The words given to King Lemuel; the prophecy which his mother taught him.
2 What my derlyng? what the derlyng of my wombe? what the derlyng of my desiris?
What, O my son! and what, O son of my womb! Yea, what, O son of my vows! [[shall I say to thee?]]
3 Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis.
Give not thy strength to 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 desire 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 rights of any of the 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 him that hath a heavy heart;
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 every orphan!
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 maintain 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.
Who can find a capable woman? Her worth is far above pearls.
11 The herte of hir hosebond tristith in hir; and sche schal not haue nede to spuylis.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he is in no want 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 merchants' 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 while it is yet night, And giveth food to her family, And a task to her maidens.
16 Sche bihelde a feeld, and bouyte it; of the fruyt of hir hondis sche plauntide a vyner.
She layeth a plan for 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 how pleasant is her gain, And her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Sche putte hir hondis to stronge thingis, and hir fyngris token the spyndil.
She putteth forth her hands to the distaff, And her hands take hold of the spindle.
20 Sche openyde hir hond to a nedi man, and stretchide forth hir hondis to a pore man.
She spreadeth 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 hath no fear for her household on account of the snow, For all her household are clothed with crimson.
22 Sche made to hir a ray cloth; bijs and purpur is the cloth of hir.
She maketh for herself coverlets; Her clothing is of 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 with 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 to the merchant.
25 Strengthe and fairnesse is the clothing of hir; and sche schal leiye in the laste dai.
Strength and honor are her clothing; And she laugheth at the days 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 kind instruction is upon 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 extol her; Her husband, and praiseth her, [[saving, ]]
29 Many douytris gaderiden richessis; thou passidist alle.
“Many daughters have done, virtuously, 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 vain; But the 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 ye her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
