Proverbs 31

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The sayings of Lemuel king of Massa, taught him by his mother:	1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which 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 beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 Do not expend your energy on women nor your wealth on those who ruin kings.	3 Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings the drinking of wine, not for princes the love of liquor,	4 Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 for fear that in liquor they forget what they have decreed and pervert the course of justice against allthe poor.	5 And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Procure strong drink for someone about to die, wine for him whose heart is heavy:	6 Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 let him drink and forget his misfortune, and remember his misery no more.	7 Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Make your views heard, on behalf of the dumb, on behalf of al the unwanted;	8 Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 make your views heard, pronounce an upright verdict, defend the cause of the poor and the wretched.	9 Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 The truly capable woman -- who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls.	10 Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 Her husband's heart has confidence in her, from her he wil derive no little profit.	11 The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 Advantage and not hurt she brings him al the days of her life.	12 She will repay him with 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 has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.	14 She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 She gets up while it is stil dark giving her household their food, giving orders to her serving girls.	15 And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 She sets her mind on a field, then she buys it; with what her hands have earned she plants avineyard.	16 She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 She puts her back into her work and shows how strong her arms can be.	17 She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 She knows that her affairs are going wel ; her lamp does not go out at night.	18 She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle.	19 She has put 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 has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended 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, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 She makes her own quilts, she is dressed in fine linen and purple.	22 She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.	23 Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 She weaves materials and sel s them, she supplies the merchant with sashes.	24 She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the day to come.	25 Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely; on her tongue is kindly instruction.	26 She has 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 has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Her children stand up and proclaim her blessed, her husband, too, sings her praises:	28 Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 'Many women have done admirable things, but you surpass them all!'	29 Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who fears Yahweh is the one to praise.	30 Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same 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 to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.