Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
What my derlyng? what the derlyng of my wombe? what the derlyng of my desiris?
3 Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
A! Lamuel, nyle thou yiue wyn to kingis; for no pryuete is, where drunkenesse regneth.
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Lest perauenture thei drynke, and foryete domes, and chaunge the cause of the sones of a pore man.
6 Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that are of heavy hearts.
Yyue ye sidur to hem that morenen, and wyn to hem that ben of bitter soule.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Drinke thei, and foryete thei her nedinesse; and thenke thei no more on her sorewe.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Opene thi mouth for a doumb man,
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
and opene thi mouth for the causes of alle sones that passen forth. Deme thou that that is iust, and deme thou a nedi man and a pore man.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Who schal fynde a stronge womman? the prijs of her is fer, and fro the laste endis.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
The herte of hir hosebond tristith in hir; and sche schal not haue nede to spuylis.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Sche schal yelde to hym good, and not yuel, in alle the daies of hir lijf.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Sche souyte wolle and flex; and wrouyte bi the counsel of hir hondis.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Sche is maad as the schip of a marchaunt, that berith his breed fro fer.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
And sche roos bi nyyt, and yaf prey to hir meyneals, and metis to hir handmaidis.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Sche bihelde a feeld, and bouyte it; of the fruyt of hir hondis sche plauntide a vyner.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Sche girde hir leendis with strengthe, and made strong hir arm.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her lamp goeth not out by night.
Sche taastide, and siy, that hir marchaundie was good; hir lanterne schal not be quenchid in the niyt.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Sche putte hir hondis to stronge thingis, and hir fyngris token the spyndil.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Sche openyde hir hond to a nedi man, and stretchide forth hir hondis to a pore man.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Sche schal not drede for hir hous of the cooldis of snow; for alle hir meyneals ben clothid with double clothis.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Sche made to hir a ray cloth; bijs and purpur is the cloth of hir.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Hir hosebonde is noble in the yatis, whanne he sittith with the senatours of erthe.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth waistbands to the merchant.
Sche made lynnun cloth, and selde; and yaf a girdil to a Chananei.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Strengthe and fairnesse is the clothing of hir; and sche schal leiye in the laste dai.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Sche openyde hir mouth to wisdom; and the lawe of merci is in hir tunge.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Sche bihelde the pathis of hir hous; and sche eet not breed idili.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Hir sones risiden, and prechiden hir moost blessid; hir hosebonde roos, and preiside hir.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Many douytris gaderiden richessis; thou passidist alle.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Fairnesse is disseiuable grace, and veyn; thilke womman, that dredith the Lord, schal be preisid.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Yyue ye to hir of the fruyt of hir hondis; and hir werkis preise hir in the yatis.
