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 oracle which 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﹖
"Oh, my son. Oh, son of my womb. Oh, 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。
Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys 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, or for princes to take 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 decree, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is 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 to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the 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 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 your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 你應開口秉公行審，應為貧苦弱小辯護。
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to 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 worthy 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 trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 她一生歲月，只叫他幸福，不給他煩惱。
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 她弄來羊毛細麻，愉快地親手勞作。
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14 她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread 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 rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
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 considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
She girds her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 她發覺自己經營生利，她的燈盞夜間仍不熄滅。
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn't go out by night.
19 她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 對貧苦的人，她隨手賙濟；對無靠的人，她伸手扶助。
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends 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 makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen 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 respected in the gates, when he sits 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 makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to 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 dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 她一開口即傾吐智慧，舌上常有仁慈的訓誨。
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 她不斷督察家務，從不白吃閒飯。
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn't eat 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 rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
"Many women do noble things, but you excel 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 deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears YHWH, 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. Let her works praise her in the gates.
