< Proverbiorum 31 >
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum: quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas.
Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
5 Et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
6 Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
7 bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua eius.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
28 Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam prædicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
29 Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
“Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.