箴言 31
1 瑪薩的君王肋慕耳的格言，是他母親教給他的：
These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
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 shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to 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。
Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
4 肋慕耳! 清酒不宜於君王，醇酒不宜於公侯，
Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
5 免得在酒興之餘，輕易將法律忘掉，顛倒窮人的是非。
For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
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 alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
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 so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
8 你應為啞吧開口，為被棄的人辯護；
Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
9 你應開口秉公行審，應為貧苦弱小辯護。
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
10 賢淑的婦女，有誰能找到﹖她本身價值，遠勝過珠寶。
Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
11 她的丈夫對她衷心信賴，一切所需從來不會缺少。
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
12 她一生歲月，只叫他幸福，不給他煩惱。
She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
13 她弄來羊毛細麻，愉快地親手勞作。
She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
14 她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
Like a merchant's ship, she brings food 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。
She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
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 looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
17 她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
18 她發覺自己經營生利，她的燈盞夜間仍不熄滅。
She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
19 她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
20 對貧苦的人，她隨手賙濟；對無靠的人，她伸手扶助。
She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
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 doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
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 makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
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 well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
24 她紡織紗布予以出售，又製造腰帶賣與商賈。
She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
25 剛毅和尊嚴是她的服飾，一念及將來便笑容滿面。
She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
26 她一開口即傾吐智慧，舌上常有仁慈的訓誨。
She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
27 她不斷督察家務，從不白吃閒飯。
She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
28 她的子女起來向她祝福，她的丈夫對她讚不絕口：「
Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
29 賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
“Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
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 can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should 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 her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
