The Songs of the Old Testament Translated into English Measures, Song 6
THE Song of King LEMVEL. Prou. 31.10.
The Argument and Vſe.
WEe finde this Hymne annexed to the Prou…rbs of Solomon, and reckoned as part of their 31. Chapter. which hath this title. The words of King Lemuel, &c. (who as ſome write was Solomon. The Song is Alphabetically in the originall, diuided into St…nz…'s, anſwerable to the number, and order of the He…ew letters and comprehendeth an Admirable deſc…ipt…on of a good …. In which are three principa… …h…ngs conſiderable. Firſt, what aduantage her … receiue…h by her: Secondly, what commend… … ſhe hath …n her ſelfe: and thirdly, what profit th…y bring vntounto her alſo at the laſt. The chiefe benefits her husband enioyes by her are theſe: Firſt, he is free from diſtruſt and vnquietneſſe of minde: Secondly, he ſhall not need to liue by vniuſt dealings: Thirdly, he ſhall be enriched in his eſtate: and fourthly, to place of honour and eſteeme in the common-wealth. That which is commendable in her, is two-fold: outward induſtrie of the body; and inward vertue of the minde. Her bodily induſtry, is ſet forth in diuers particular actions, tending to the prouiding for, & diſpoſing of her houſhold affaires: in which, her cheerefulneſſe, her prouidence, her courage, and her vnweariedneſſe, is alſo applauded. Her inward vertues are, continuall louelove to her husband; liberality and charity to the poore: the gouernement of her tongue, and heedfulneſſe of thoſe courſes her houſhold takes. The commodities ſhe her ſelfe receiueth hereby are theſe; her husband is confident in her; ſhe ſhall hauehave comfort in her labours; her poſterity ſhall bleſſe her; her husband ſhall praiſe her aboue other women; ſhe ſhall be honoured of the beſt whilſt ſhe liues; and ſhall hauehave ioy after her death.
This is the Analiſis, and in my opinion it is an excellent Marriage-Song, fit alwaies to be ſung after the ſolemnizing of thoſe rites. And (perhaps) if men would often vſe it in their families, in ſtead of their wanton Sonnets, and drunken Catches, the Muſicke thereof would make leſſe diſcord there; and inſtruct ſome of their wiues, to become greater bleſſings vntounto them, then formerly they hauehave beene.
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. …
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For ſale, fine linnin weaueth ſhe:
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 vn-earn'd.
Her Children riſe, and bleſt her call,
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.
The fruit her handy-works obtaine,
Without repining grant her that:
And giuegive her what her labours gaine,
To doe her honour in the gate.