Ordsprogene 31
1 Kong Lemuel af Massas Ord; som hans Moder tugtede ham med.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
2 Hvad, Lemuel, min Søn, min førstefødte, hvad skal jeg sige dig, hvad, mit Moderlivs Søn, hvad, mine Løfters Søn?
What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Giv ikke din Kraft til Kvinder, din Kærlighed til dem, der ødelægger Konger.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
4 Det klæder ej Konger, Lemuel, det klæder ej Konger at drikke Vin eller Fyrster at kræve stærke Drikke,
Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
5 at de ikke skal drikke og glemme Vedtægt og bøje Retten for alle arme.
Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
6 Giv den segnende stærke Drikke, og giv den mismodige Vin;
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
7 lad ham drikke og glemme sin Fattigdom, ej mer ihukomme sin Møje.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
8 Luk Munden op for den stumme, for alle lidendes Sag;
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 luk Munden op og døm retfærdigt, skaf den arme og fattige Ret!
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Hvo finder en duelig Hustru? Hendes Værd staar langt over Perlers.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 Hendes Husbonds Hjerte stoler paa hende, paa Vinding skorter det ikke.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 Hun gør ham godt og intet ondt alle sine Levedage.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 Hun sørger for Uld og Hør, hun bruger sine Hænder med Lyst.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 Hun er som en Købmands Skibe, sin Føde henter hun langvejs fra.
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
15 Endnu før Dag staar hun op og giver Huset Mad, sine Piger deres tilmaalte Del.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 Hun tænker paa en Mark og faar den, hun planter en Vingaard, for hvad hun har tjent.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Hun bælter sin Hofte med Kraft, lægger Styrke i sine Arme.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 Hun skønner, hendes Husholdning lykkes, hendes Lampe gaar ikke ud om Natten.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Hun rækker sine Hænder mod Rokken, Fingrene tager om Tenen.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 Hun rækker sin Haand til den arme, rækker Armene ud til den fattige.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
21 Af Sne har hun intet at frygte for sit Hus, thi hele hendes Hus er klædt i Skarlagen.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 Tæpper laver hun sig, hun er klædt i Byssus og Purpur.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Hendes Husbond er kendt i Portene, naar han sidder blandt Landets Ældste.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 Hun væver Linned til Salg og sælger Bælter til Kræmmeren.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 Klædt i Styrke og Hæder gaar hun Morgendagen i Møde med Smil.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 Hun aabner Munden med Visdom, med mild Vejledning paa Tungen.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Hun vaager over Husets Gænge og spiser ej Ladheds Brød.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
28 Hendes Sønner staar frem og giver hende Pris, hendes Husbond synger hendes Lov:
Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
29 »Mange duelige Kvinder findes, men du staar over dem alle!«
“Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Ynde er Svig og Skønhed Skin; en Kvinde, som frygter HERREN, skal roses.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
31 Lad hende faa sine Hænders Frugt, hendes Gerninger synger hendes Lov i Portene.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
