Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum: quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 Et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua eius.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam prædicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
