1 WYC The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym. BSB BSB: These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 WYC What my derlyng? what the derlyng of my wombe? what the derlyng of my desiris? BSB BSB: What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 WYC Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis. BSB BSB: Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 WYC A! Lamuel, nyle thou yiue wyn to kingis; for no pryuete is, where drunkenesse regneth. BSB BSB: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 WYC Lest perauenture thei drynke, and foryete domes, and chaunge the cause of the sones of a pore man. BSB BSB: lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 WYC Yyue ye sidur to hem that morenen, and wyn to hem that ben of bitter soule. BSB BSB: Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 WYC Drinke thei, and foryete thei her nedinesse; and thenke thei no more on her sorewe. BSB BSB: Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 WYC Opene thi mouth for a doumb man, BSB BSB: Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 WYC and opene thi mouth for the causes of alle sones that passen forth. Deme thou that that is iust, and deme thou a nedi man and a pore man. BSB BSB: Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 WYC Who schal fynde a stronge womman? the prijs of her is fer, and fro the laste endis. BSB BSB: A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 WYC The herte of hir hosebond tristith in hir; and sche schal not haue nede to spuylis. BSB BSB: The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 WYC Sche schal yelde to hym good, and not yuel, in alle the daies of hir lijf. BSB BSB: She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 WYC Sche souyte wolle and flex; and wrouyte bi the counsel of hir hondis. BSB BSB: She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 WYC Sche is maad as the schip of a marchaunt, that berith his breed fro fer. BSB BSB: She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 WYC And sche roos bi nyyt, and yaf prey to hir meyneals, and metis to hir handmaidis. BSB BSB: She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 WYC Sche bihelde a feeld, and bouyte it; of the fruyt of hir hondis sche plauntide a vyner. BSB BSB: She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 WYC Sche girde hir leendis with strengthe, and made strong hir arm. BSB BSB: She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 WYC Sche taastide, and siy, that hir marchaundie was good; hir lanterne schal not be quenchid in the niyt. BSB BSB: She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 WYC Sche putte hir hondis to stronge thingis, and hir fyngris token the spyndil. BSB BSB: She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 WYC Sche openyde hir hond to a nedi man, and stretchide forth hir hondis to a pore man. BSB BSB: She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 WYC Sche schal not drede for hir hous of the cooldis of snow; for alle hir meyneals ben clothid with double clothis. BSB BSB: When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 WYC Sche made to hir a ray cloth; bijs and purpur is the cloth of hir. BSB BSB: She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 WYC Hir hosebonde is noble in the yatis, whanne he sittith with the senatours of erthe. BSB BSB: Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 WYC Sche made lynnun cloth, and selde; and yaf a girdil to a Chananei. BSB BSB: She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 WYC Strengthe and fairnesse is the clothing of hir; and sche schal leiye in the laste dai. BSB BSB: Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 WYC Sche openyde hir mouth to wisdom; and the lawe of merci is in hir tunge. BSB BSB: She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 WYC Sche bihelde the pathis of hir hous; and sche eet not breed idili. BSB BSB: She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 WYC Hir sones risiden, and prechiden hir moost blessid; hir hosebonde roos, and preiside hir. BSB BSB: Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 WYC Many douytris gaderiden richessis; thou passidist alle. BSB BSB: “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 WYC Fairnesse is disseiuable grace, and veyn; thilke womman, that dredith the Lord, schal be preisid. BSB BSB: Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 WYC Yyue ye to hir of the fruyt of hir hondis; and hir werkis preise hir in the yatis. BSB BSB: Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.