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 Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught 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, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son 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。
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 肋慕耳! 清酒不宜於君王，醇酒不宜於公侯，
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 免得在酒興之餘，輕易將法律忘掉，顛倒窮人的是非。
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
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 unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
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 him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 你應為啞吧開口，為被棄的人辯護；
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 你應開口秉公行審，應為貧苦弱小辯護。
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
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 virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
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 doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 她一生歲月，只叫他幸福，不給他煩惱。
She will do him 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 seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
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 riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
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 considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 她發覺自己經營生利，她的燈盞夜間仍不熄滅。
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 對貧苦的人，她隨手賙濟；對無靠的人，她伸手扶助。
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands 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 is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
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 maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
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 known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 她紡織紗布予以出售，又製造腰帶賣與商賈。
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 剛毅和尊嚴是她的服飾，一念及將來便笑容滿面。
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 她一開口即傾吐智慧，舌上常有仁慈的訓誨。
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 她不斷督察家務，從不白吃閒飯。
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 她的子女起來向她祝福，她的丈夫對她讚不絕口：「
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest 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。
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she 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 her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
