The songs of The Old Testament, Translated into English Measures preseruing the Naturall Phrase and genuine Sense of the holy Text: and with as little circumlocution as in most prose Translations. To euery Song is added a new and easie Tvne, and a short Prologue also, deliuering the effect and Vse thereof, for the profit of vnlearned Readers. By George Wither |
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THE Song of King Lemvel. |
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 | The songs of The Old Testament, Translated into English Measures |  |
THE Song of King Lemvel.
Prou. 31. 10.
36
The Song.
Who findes a woman good and wise,
A Iemme more worth then pearles hath got,
Her husbands heart on her relies,
To liue by spoiles he needeth not.
A Iemme more worth then pearles hath got,
Her husbands heart on her relies,
To liue by spoiles he needeth not.
His comfort all his life is she,
But euill none delights to doe,
For wooll and flaxe, her searches be,
And cheerefull hands she puts thereto.
But euill none delights to doe,
For wooll and flaxe, her searches be,
And cheerefull hands she puts thereto.
37
The Merchant-ship resembling right,
She from a farre, her food doth fet.
Er'e day she wakes, that set she might
Her maides a taske; her houshold meat.
She from a farre, her food doth fet.
Er'e day she wakes, that set she might
Her maides a taske; her houshold meat.
A field she vieweth, which she buyes:
Her hand doth plant a vineyard there.
Her Loines with courage vp she ties,
Her Armes with vigour strengthned are.
Her hand doth plant a vineyard there.
Her Loines with courage vp she ties,
Her Armes with vigour strengthned are.
If good her huswifery she feele,
By night, her Candle goes not out.
She puts her fingers to the wheele,
Her hand the spindle twirles about.
By night, her Candle goes not out.
She puts her fingers to the wheele,
Her hand the spindle twirles about.
To such as poore, and needy are,
Her hand (yea both) extendeth she,
The winter, none of hers doth feare,
For double cloath'd her houshold be.
Her hand (yea both) extendeth she,
The winter, none of hers doth feare,
For double cloath'd her houshold be.
She makes her Mantles wrought by hand,
And silke and purple cloathing gets:
Among the Rulers of the land,
Knowne in the gate, her husband sits.
And silke and purple cloathing gets:
Among the Rulers of the land,
Knowne in the gate, her husband sits.
For sale, fine linnin weaueth she:
And girdles to the Merchant sends.
Her cloathings, strength and honour be:
And Ioy, her latter-time attends.
And girdles to the Merchant sends.
Her cloathings, strength and honour be:
And Ioy, her latter-time attends.
She speakes with wisedome, when she talkes,
The law of grace her tongue hath learn'd.
She heeds the way her houshold walkes;
And feedeth not on bread vnearn'd.
The law of grace her tongue hath learn'd.
She heeds the way her houshold walkes;
And feedeth not on bread vnearn'd.
38
Her Children rise, and blest her call,
Her husband thus applaudeth her,
Oh thou hast farre surpast them all;
Though many daughters thriuing are!
Her husband thus applaudeth her,
Oh thou hast farre surpast them all;
Though many daughters thriuing are!
Deceitfull fauour, quicklie weares,
And beautie suddenly decaies:
But if the LORD she truely feares,
That woman well deserueth praise.
And beautie suddenly decaies:
But if the LORD she truely feares,
That woman well deserueth praise.
The fruit her handy-works obtaine,
Without repining grant her that:
And giue her what her labours gaine,
To doe her honour in the gate.
Without repining grant her that:
And giue her what her labours gaine,
To doe her honour in the gate.
| The songs of The Old Testament, Translated into English Measures | |