Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy 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 princes strog drinke,
5 et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
6 Date siceram moerentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
7 ut bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suae, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitae suae.
She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
13 Quaesivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque praedam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
21 Non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae.
Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananaeo.
She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiae, et lex clementiae in lingua eius.
She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suae, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
28 Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam praedicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
29 Multae filiae congregaverunt sibi divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
