Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
2 ¶ Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei?
quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam,
et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum,
quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
5 et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum,
et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
6 Date siceram mœrentibus,
et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
7 Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ,
et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
8 Aperi os tuum muto,
et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
9 Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est,
et judica inopem et pauperem.
et judica inopem et pauperem.
10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
10 ¶ Mulierem fortem quis inveniet?
procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui,
et spoliis non indigebit.
et spoliis non indigebit.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum,
omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum,
et operata est consilio manuum suarum.
et operata est consilio manuum suarum.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris,
de longe portans panem suum.
de longe portans panem suum.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
15 Et de nocte surrexit,
deditque prædam domesticis suis,
et cibaria ancillis suis.
deditque prædam domesticis suis,
et cibaria ancillis suis.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum;
de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos,
et roboravit brachium suum.
et roboravit brachium suum.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus;
non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia,
et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi,
et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis;
omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi;
byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
23 Nobilis in portis vir ejus,
quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit,
et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus,
et ridebit in die novissimo.
et ridebit in die novissimo.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ,
et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.
et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ,
et panem otiosa non comedit.
et panem otiosa non comedit.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
28 Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt;
vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
29 Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias;
tu supergressa es universas.
tu supergressa es universas.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo:
mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum,
et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.
et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.
About the Latin Text
The Latin text displayed here is that of the Clementine Vulgate, as digitized by the Clementine Text Project.