Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
[Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei? quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
5 — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et pauperem.]
10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
[Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
12 She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
14 She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Consideravit agrum, et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
22 She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Nobilis in portis vir ejus, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus, et ridebit in die novissimo.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.
27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt; vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias; tu supergressa es universas.
30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.]
