An exhortation to chastity, temperance, and works of mercy; with the praise of a wise woman.

 1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.

 2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei? quid, dilecte votorum meorum?

 3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.

 4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;

 5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.

 6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
Date siceram moerentibus, et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.

 7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suae, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.

 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.

 9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et pauperem.

 10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.

 11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.

 12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitae suae.

 13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
Quaesivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.

 14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
Facta et quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.

 15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
Et de nocte surrexit, deditque praedam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.

 16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
Consideravit agrum, et emit eum; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.

 17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.

 18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.

 19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.

 20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.

 21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
Non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.

 22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.

 23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
Nobilis in portis vir ejus, quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae.

 24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananaeo.

 25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus, et ridebit in die novissimo.

 26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
Os suum aperuit sapientiae, et lex clementiae in lingua ejus.

 27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
Consideravit semitas domus suae, et panem otiosa non comedit.

 28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam praedicaverunt; vir ejus, et laudavit eam.

 29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
Multae filiae congregaverunt divitias; tu supergressa es universas.

 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo : mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.

 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
Date ei de fructu manuum suarum, et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.