Liber Proverbiorum, 31

1. Verba Lamuelis regis Massa, quae erudivit eum mater eius.

1. The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

2. Quid, fili mi? Quid, fili uteri mei? Quid, fili votorum meorum?

2. What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows?

3. Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam et vias tuas illis, quae delent reges.

3. Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

4. Non decet reges, o Lamuel, non decet reges bibere vinum, nec magistratus desiderare siceram,

4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink;

5. ne forte bibant et obliviscantur iudiciorum et mutent causam omnium filiorum pauperis.

5. lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6. Date siceram pereunti et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:

6. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;

7. bibat et obliviscatur egestatis suae et doloris sui non recordetur amplius.

7. let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.

8. Aperi os tuum pro muto et causis omnium filiorum, qui pereunt;

8. Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all who are left desolate.

9. aperi os tuum, decerne, quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.

9. Open your mouth, judge righteously, maintain the rights of the poor and needy.

10. ALEPH. Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? Longe super gemmas pretium eius.

10. A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

11. BETH. Confidit in ea cor viri sui et spoliis non indigebit.

11. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

12. GHIMEL. Reddet ei bonum et non malum omnibus diebus vitae suae.

12. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

13. DALETH. Quaesivit lanam et linum et operata est delectatione manuum suarum.

13. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

14. HE. Facta est quasi navis institoris de longe portans panem suum.

14. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar.

15. VAU. Et de nocte surrexit deditque praedam domesticis suis et cibaria ancillis suis.

15. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens.

16. ZAIN. Consideravit agrum et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.

16. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17. HETH. Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos et roboravit brachium suum.

17. She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong.

18. TETH. Gustavit et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius; non exstinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.

18. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

19. IOD. Manum suam misit ad colos, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.

19. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

20. CAPH. Palmas suas aperuit inopi et manum suam extendit ad pauperem.

20. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21. LAMED. Non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.

21. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22. MEM. Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum eius.

22. She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23. NUN. Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae.

23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

24. SAMECH. Sindonem fecit et vendidit et cingulum tradidit Chananaeo.

24. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant.

25. Ain. Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.

25. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

26. PHE. Os suum aperuit sapientiae, et lex clementiae in lingua eius.

26. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27. SADE. Consideravit semitas domus suae et panem otiosa non comedit.

27. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28. COPH. Surrexerunt filii eius et beatissimam praedicaverunt, vir eius et laudavit eam:

28. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29. RES. “Multae filiae fortiter operatae sunt, tu supergressa es universas”.

29. "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."

30. SIN. Fallax gratia et vana est pulchritudo; mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.

30. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31. TAU. Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera eius.

31. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.