Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin 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 drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
5 Et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of 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 putteth vigour into her arms:
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua eius.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam prædicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, 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.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
