Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2 [Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei? quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5 et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6 Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et pauperem.]
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10 [Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Nobilis in portis vir ejus, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus, et ridebit in die novissimo.
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt; vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias; tu supergressa es universas.
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.]
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
