Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Living Translation NLT
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
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The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.
2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
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O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
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do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
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It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.
5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
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For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to them that are sad; and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
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Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.
7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
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Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
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Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
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Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
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Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
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Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life.
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She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
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She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
14 She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
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She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.
15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
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She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
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She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
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She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
18 She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
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She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.
19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
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Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
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She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
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She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.
22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple, is her covering.
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She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
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Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
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She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
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She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
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When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
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She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
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Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
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“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
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Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
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Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.