箴言 31
1 瑪薩的君王肋慕耳的格言，是他母親教給他的：
The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:
2 我兒! 我的親生兒! 我的長子肋慕耳! 我許願所得的孩子! 我可給你說些什麼﹖
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 你不要將你的精力，為女人而消耗；也不要為君王的宮女，白費你的血氣。
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 肋慕耳! 清酒不宜於君王，醇酒不宜於公侯，
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 免得在酒興之餘，輕易將法律忘掉，顛倒窮人的是非。
And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 應將醇酒給與哀慟欲絕的人，應將清酒給與心靈痛楚的人，
Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 好叫他們喝了，完全忘掉自己的貧乏，不再記憶自己的憂苦。
Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 你應為啞吧開口，為被棄的人辯護；
Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 你應開口秉公行審，應為貧苦弱小辯護。
Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 賢淑的婦女，有誰能找到﹖她本身價值，遠勝過珠寶。
Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 她的丈夫對她衷心信賴，一切所需從來不會缺少。
The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 她一生歲月，只叫他幸福，不給他煩惱。
She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 她弄來羊毛細麻，愉快地親手勞作。
She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 天還未明，她已起身，為給家人分配食物，給婢女們分派家務。
And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 她看中一塊田地，就將它買了來，以雙手所得的收入，栽植了葡萄園。
She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 她發覺自己經營生利，她的燈盞夜間仍不熄滅。
She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 對貧苦的人，她隨手賙濟；對無靠的人，她伸手扶助。
She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21 為自己的家人，她不害怕風雪，因為全家上下，都穿雙料衣裳。
She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 她為自己做了華麗的舖蓋，身穿的是細麻和紫錦的衣裳。
She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 她的丈夫與當地長老同席，在城門口深為眾人所認識。
Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 她紡織紗布予以出售，又製造腰帶賣與商賈。
She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 剛毅和尊嚴是她的服飾，一念及將來便笑容滿面。
Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 她一開口即傾吐智慧，舌上常有仁慈的訓誨。
She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 她不斷督察家務，從不白吃閒飯。
She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 她的子女起來向她祝福，她的丈夫對她讚不絕口：「
Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 姿色是虛幻，美麗是泡影；敬畏上主的女人，纔堪當受人讚美。
Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 願她享受她雙手操勞的成果! 願她的事業在城門口使她受讚揚!
Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
