Proverbs 31

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 The sayings of Lemuel king of Massa, taught him by his mother:	1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 What, my son! What, son of my womb! What, son of my vows!	2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Do not expend your energy on women nor your wealth on those who ruin kings.	3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings the drinking of wine, not for princes the love of liquor,	4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 for fear that in liquor they forget what they have decreed and pervert the course of justice against allthe poor.	5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Procure strong drink for someone about to die, wine for him whose heart is heavy:	6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 let him drink and forget his misfortune, and remember his misery no more.	7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Make your views heard, on behalf of the dumb, on behalf of al the unwanted;	8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 make your views heard, pronounce an upright verdict, defend the cause of the poor and the wretched.	9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 The truly capable woman -- who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls.	10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 Her husband's heart has confidence in her, from her he wil derive no little profit.	11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 Advantage and not hurt she brings him al the days of her life.	12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax, she does her work with eager hands.	13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.	14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15 She gets up while it is stil dark giving her household their food, giving orders to her serving girls.	15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 She sets her mind on a field, then she buys it; with what her hands have earned she plants avineyard.	16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She puts her back into her work and shows how strong her arms can be.	17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 She knows that her affairs are going wel ; her lamp does not go out at night.	18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle.	19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She holds out her hands to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy.	20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 Snow may come, she has no fears for her household, with al her servants warmly clothed.	21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for dl her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 She makes her own quilts, she is dressed in fine linen and purple.	22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.	23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 She weaves materials and sel s them, she supplies the merchant with sashes.	24 She made fine linen, and sold it, end delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the day to come.	25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely; on her tongue is kindly instruction.	26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She keeps good watch on the conduct of her household, no bread of idleness for her.	27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Her children stand up and proclaim her blessed, her husband, too, sings her praises:	28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 'Many women have done admirable things, but you surpass them all!'	29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who fears Yahweh is the one to praise.	30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tel her praises at the citygates.	31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.