Proverbs 31
1 The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym.
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 What my derlyng? what the derlyng of my wombe? what the derlyng of my desiris?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin 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 dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
5 Lest perauenture thei drynke, and foryete domes, and chaunge the cause of the sones of a pore man.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Yyue ye sidur to hem that morenen, and wyn to hem that ben of bitter soule.
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered 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, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Opene thi mouth for a doumb man,
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
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 administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Who schal fynde a stronge womman? the prijs of her is fer, and fro the laste endis.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 The herte of hir hosebond tristith in hir; and sche schal not haue nede to spuylis.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
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 ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 And sche roos bi nyyt, and yaf prey to hir meyneals, and metis to hir handmaidis.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, 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 considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 Sche girde hir leendis with strengthe, and made strong hir arm.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 Sche taastide, and siy, that hir marchaundie was good; hir lanterne schal not be quenchid in the niyt.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 Sche putte hir hondis to stronge thingis, and hir fyngris token the spyndil.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 Sche openyde hir hond to a nedi man, and stretchide forth hir hondis to a pore man.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth 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 feareth not, for her household, because 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.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Hir hosebonde is noble in the yatis, whanne he sittith with the senatours of erthe.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 Sche made lynnun cloth, and selde; and yaf a girdil to a Chananei.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
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.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction 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 goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Hir sones risiden, and prechiden hir moost blessid; hir hosebonde roos, and preiside hir.
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
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.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, 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 own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
