Proverbs 31

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.	1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa. The advice which his mother gave him:
2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?	2 What, my son, my first-born! what, O son of my womb; what, O son of my vows!
3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.	3 Give not your vigor to women, nor your strength to those who ruin kings.
4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:	4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes!
5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.	5 Lest in drinking they forget what the law decrees, and violate the rights of all who are in need.
6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:	6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed;
7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.	7 When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their burdens.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.	8 Open your mouth in behalf of the dumb, and for the rights of the destitute;
9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.	9 Open your mouth, decree what is just, defend the needy and the poor!
10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.	10 When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.	11 Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.
12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.	12 She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.	13 She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands.
14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.	14 Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar.
15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.	15 She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household.
16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.	16 She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.	17 She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.
18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.	18 She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed.
19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.	19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.	20 She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.
21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for dl her domestics are clothed with double garments.	21 She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are doubly clothed.
22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.	22 She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.	23 Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She made fine linen, and sold it, end delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.	24 She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.
25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.	25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come.
26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.	26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel.
27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.	27 She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness.
28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.	28 Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.	29 "Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all."
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.	30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.	31 Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.