Proverbs Chapter 31

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

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him. Lamuel... This name signifies God with him, and is supposed to have been one of the names of Solomon.

2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Give strong drink to them that are sad; and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.

10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple, is her covering.
23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. The Chanaanite... The merchant, for Chanaanite, in Hebrew, signifies a merchant.
25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.

2 Quid, dilecte mi? quid, dilecte uteri mei?
quid, dilecte votorum meorum?
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam,
et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum,
quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;
5 et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum,
et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
6 Date siceram mœrentibus,
et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo.
7 Bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ,
et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
8 Aperi os tuum muto,
et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
9 Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est,
et judica inopem et pauperem.

10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet?
procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui,
et spoliis non indigebit.
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum,
omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum,
et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris,
de longe portans panem suum.
15 Et de nocte surrexit,
deditque prædam domesticis suis,
et cibaria ancillis suis.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum;
de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos,
et roboravit brachium suum.
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus;
non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia,
et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum.
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi,
et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis;
omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi;
byssus et purpura indumentum ejus.
23 Nobilis in portis vir ejus,
quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit,
et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus,
et ridebit in die novissimo.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ,
et lex clementiæ in lingua ejus.
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ,
et panem otiosa non comedit.
28 Surrexerunt filii ejus, et beatissimam prædicaverunt;
vir ejus, et laudavit eam.
29 Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias;
tu supergressa es universas.
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo:
mulier timens Dominum, ipsa laudabitur.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum,
et laudent eam in portis opera ejus.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition