Proverbia 31

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.	1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa. The advice which his mother gave him:
2 Quid, dilecte mi ? quid, dilecte uteri mei ? quid, dilecte votorum meorum ?	2 What, my son, my first-born! what, O son of my womb; what, O son of my vows!
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.	3 Give not your vigor to women, nor your strength to those who ruin kings.
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas ;	4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes!
5 et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.	5 Lest in drinking they forget what the law decrees, and violate the rights of all who are in need.
6 Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.	6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed;
7 Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.	7 When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their burdens.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.	8 Open your mouth in behalf of the dumb, and for the rights of the destitute;
9 Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et pauperem.	9 Open your mouth, decree what is just, defend the needy and the poor!
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet ? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.	10 When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.	11 Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.	12 She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.	13 She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.	14 Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.	15 She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum ; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.	16 She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.	17 She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus ; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.	18 She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.	19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.	20 She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis ; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.	21 She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are doubly clothed.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi ; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.	22 She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Nobilis in portis vir ejus, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.	23 Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.	24 She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus, et ridebit in die novissimo.	25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.	26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.	27 She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness.
28 Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt ; vir ejus, et laudavit eam.	28 Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:
29 Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias ; tu supergressa es universas.	29 "Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all."
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo : mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.	30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.	31 Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.