Proverbs 31

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which 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 beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?	2 What, my son, my first-born! what, O son of my womb; what, O son of my vows!
3 Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.	3 Give not your vigor to women, nor your strength to those who ruin kings.
4 Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.	4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes!
5 And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons 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 the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.	6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed;
7 Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.	7 When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their burdens.
8 Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.	8 Open your mouth in behalf of the dumb, and for the rights of the destitute;
9 Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.	9 Open your mouth, decree what is just, defend the needy and the poor!
10 Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.	10 When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.
11 The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.	11 Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.
12 She will repay him with 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 has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.	13 She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands.
14 She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.	14 Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar.
15 And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.	15 She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household.
16 She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.	16 She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.	17 She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.
18 She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.	18 She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed.
19 She has put 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 has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended 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, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.	21 She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are doubly clothed.
22 She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.	22 She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits 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 has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.	24 She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.
25 Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.	25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come.
26 She has 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 has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.	27 She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness.
28 Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.	28 Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.	29 "Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all."
30 Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.	30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.	31 Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.