Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum: quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas.
It is not for kings, 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.
because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Date siceram moerentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
7 ut bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suae, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitae suae.
She does good things for him and not evil 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 the delight of her hands.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque praedam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
21 Non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae.
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananaeo.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiae, et lex clementiae in lingua eius.
She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suae, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She watches over the ways 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, and her husband praises her, saying,
29 Multae filiae congregaverunt sibi divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
“Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will 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 in the gates.
