Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.
2 What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei? quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
5 For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
6 Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
7 Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et pauperem.
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
16 After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
Consideravit agrum, et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
23 Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
Nobilis in portis vir ejus, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
24 She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus, et ridebit in die novissimo.
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt; vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias; tu supergressa es universas.
30 Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.
