Liber Proverbiorum

Proverbiorum, chapter 31, Vulgate and King James Version

Chapter 31 Vulgate

   1 Verba Lamuelis regis Massa, quae erudivit eum mater eius.
   2 Quid, fili mi? Quid, fili uteri mei? Quid, fili votorum meorum?
   3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam et vias tuas illis, quae delent reges.
   4 Non decet reges, o Lamuel, non decet reges bibere vinum, nec magistratus desiderare siceram,
   5 ne forte bibant et obliviscantur iudiciorum et mutent causam omnium filiorum pauperis.
   6 Date siceram pereunti et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
   7 bibat et obliviscatur egestatis suae et doloris sui non recordetur amplius.
   8 Aperi os tuum pro muto et causis omnium filiorum, qui pereunt;
   9 aperi os tuum, decerne, quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
   10 ALEPH. Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? Longe super gemmas pretium eius.
   11 BETH. Confidit in ea cor viri sui et spoliis non indigebit.
   12 GHIMEL. Reddet ei bonum et non malum omnibus diebus vitae suae.
   13 DALETH. Quaesivit lanam et linum et operata est delectatione manuum suarum.
   14 HE. Facta est quasi navis institoris de longe portans panem suum.
   15 VAU. Et de nocte surrexit deditque praedam domesticis suis et cibaria ancillis suis.
   16 ZAIN. Consideravit agrum et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
   17 HETH. Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos et roboravit brachium suum.
   18 TETH. Gustavit et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius; non exstinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
   19 IOD. Manum suam misit ad colos, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
   20 CAPH. Palmas suas aperuit inopi et manum suam extendit ad pauperem.
   21 LAMED. Non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
   22 MEM. Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum eius.
   23 NUN. Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae.
   24 SAMECH. Sindonem fecit et vendidit et cingulum tradidit Chananaeo.
   25 Ain. Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
   26 PHE. Os suum aperuit sapientiae, et lex clementiae in lingua eius.
   27 SADE. Consideravit semitas domus suae et panem otiosa non comedit.
   28 COPH. Surrexerunt filii eius et beatissimam praedicaverunt, vir eius et laudavit eam:
   29 RES. "Multae filiae fortiter operatae sunt, tu supergressa es universas".
   30 SIN. Fallax gratia et vana est pulchritudo; mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
   31 TAU. Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera eius.

Source: Bibliorum Sacrorum Editio, Sacrosanti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II, Ratione Habita, Iussu Pauli PP. VI Recognita, Auctoritate Ioannis Pauli PP. II Promulgata, Editio Typica Altera

King James Version

   1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
   2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
   3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
   4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
   5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
   6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
   7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
   8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
   9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
   10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
   11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
   12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
   13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
   14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
   15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
   16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
   17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
   18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
   19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
   20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
   21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
   22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
   23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
   24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
   25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
   26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
   27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
   28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
   29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
   30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
   31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.