Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away 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, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
5 et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Date siceram moerentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 ut bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suae, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitae suae.
She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
13 Quaesivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque praedam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 Non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae.
Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananaeo.
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiae, et lex clementiae in lingua eius.
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suae, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
28 Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam praedicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 Multae filiae congregaverunt sibi divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
