Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those 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, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Date siceram moerentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 ut bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suae, 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 those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitae suae.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 Quaesivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque praedam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 Non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananaeo.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiae, et lex clementiae in lingua eius.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suae, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam praedicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 Multae filiae congregaverunt sibi divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
