< 箴言 31 >

1 利慕伊勒王的言語,是他母親教訓他的真言。
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 我的兒啊,我腹中生的兒啊, 我許願得的兒啊!我當怎樣教訓你呢?
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 不要將你的精力給婦女; 也不要有敗壞君王的行為。
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 利慕伊勒啊,君王喝酒,君王喝酒不相宜; 王子說濃酒在那裏也不相宜;
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5 恐怕喝了就忘記律例, 顛倒一切困苦人的是非。
— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 可以把濃酒給將亡的人喝, 把清酒給苦心的人喝,
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 讓他喝了,就忘記他的貧窮, 不再記念他的苦楚。
let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 你當為啞巴開口, 為一切孤獨的伸冤。
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 你當開口按公義判斷, 為困苦和窮乏的辨屈。
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 才德的婦人誰能得着呢? 她的價值遠勝過珍珠。
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 她丈夫心裏倚靠她, 必不缺少利益;
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 她一生使丈夫有益無損。
She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 她尋找羊羢和麻, 甘心用手做工。
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 她好像商船從遠方運糧來,
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 未到黎明她就起來, 把食物分給家中的人, 將當做的工分派婢女。
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 她想得田地就買來; 用手所得之利栽種葡萄園。
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 她以能力束腰, 使膀臂有力。
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 她覺得所經營的有利; 她的燈終夜不滅。
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 她手拿撚線竿, 手把紡線車。
She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 她張手賙濟困苦人, 伸手幫補窮乏人。
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 她不因下雪為家裏的人擔心, 因為全家都穿着朱紅衣服。
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 她為自己製作繡花毯子; 她的衣服是細麻和紫色布做的。
She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 她丈夫在城門口與本地的長老同坐, 為眾人所認識。
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 她做細麻布衣裳出賣, 又將腰帶賣與商家。
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 能力和威儀是她的衣服; 她想到日後的景況就喜笑。
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 她開口就發智慧; 她舌上有仁慈的法則。
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 她觀察家務, 並不吃閒飯。
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 她的兒女起來稱她有福; 她的丈夫也稱讚她,
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 說:才德的女子很多, 惟獨你超過一切。
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 艷麗是虛假的,美容是虛浮的; 惟敬畏耶和華的婦女必得稱讚。
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 願她享受操作所得的; 願她的工作在城門口榮耀她。
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

< 箴言 31 >