Proverbs 31
1 The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym.
The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
2 What my derlyng? what the derlyng of my wombe? what the derlyng of my desiris?
What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, 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, or your ways to those who destroy 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, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 Lest perauenture thei drynke, and foryete domes, and chaunge the cause of the sones of a pore man.
because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Yyue ye sidur to hem that morenen, and wyn to hem that ben of bitter soule.
Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
7 Drinke thei, and foryete thei her nedinesse; and thenke thei no more on her sorewe.
He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
8 Opene thi mouth for a doumb man,
Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
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 out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
10 Who schal fynde a stronge womman? the prijs of her is fer, and fro the laste endis.
Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
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, and he will never be poor.
12 Sche schal yelde to hym good, and not yuel, in alle the daies of hir lijf.
She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
13 Sche souyte wolle and flex; and wrouyte bi the counsel of hir hondis.
She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of 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 food from far away.
15 And sche roos bi nyyt, and yaf prey to hir meyneals, and metis to hir handmaidis.
She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
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 dresses herself 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 what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
19 Sche putte hir hondis to stronge thingis, and hir fyngris token the spyndil.
She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
20 Sche openyde hir hond to a nedi man, and stretchide forth hir hondis to a pore man.
She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
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 in scarlet.
22 Sche made to hir a ray cloth; bijs and purpur is the cloth of hir.
She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23 Hir hosebonde is noble in the yatis, whanne he sittith with the senatours of erthe.
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with 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 she supplies sashes to the merchants.
25 Strengthe and fairnesse is the clothing of hir; and sche schal leiye in the laste dai.
She is clothed with strength and honor, and 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 and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Sche bihelde the pathis of hir hous; and sche eet not breed idili.
She watches over 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, and her husband praises her, saying,
29 Many douytris gaderiden richessis; thou passidist alle.
“Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
30 Fairnesse is disseiuable grace, and veyn; thilke womman, that dredith the Lord, schal be preisid.
Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
31 Yyue ye to hir of the fruyt of hir hondis; and hir werkis preise hir in the yatis.
Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
