Proverbes 31.3
English standard version

Proverbes de Lemuel

Conseils d’une mère

¹ The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
² What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?
³ Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to take strong drink,
⁵ lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
⁶ Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
⁷ let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
⁸ Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Une femme de valeur

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.