Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
瑪薩的君王肋慕耳的格言，是他母親教給他的：
2 What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
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﹖
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
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。
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
肋慕耳! 清酒不宜於君王，醇酒不宜於公侯，
5 For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
免得在酒興之餘，輕易將法律忘掉，顛倒窮人的是非。
6 Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
應將醇酒給與哀慟欲絕的人，應將清酒給與心靈痛楚的人，
7 Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
好叫他們喝了，完全忘掉自己的貧乏，不再記憶自己的憂苦。
8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
你應為啞吧開口，為被棄的人辯護；
9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
你應開口秉公行審，應為貧苦弱小辯護。
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
賢淑的婦女，有誰能找到﹖她本身價值，遠勝過珠寶。
11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
她的丈夫對她衷心信賴，一切所需從來不會缺少。
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
她一生歲月，只叫他幸福，不給他煩惱。
13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
她弄來羊毛細麻，愉快地親手勞作。
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
天還未明，她已起身，為給家人分配食物，給婢女們分派家務。
16 After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
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。
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
她發覺自己經營生利，她的燈盞夜間仍不熄滅。
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
對貧苦的人，她隨手賙濟；對無靠的人，她伸手扶助。
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
為自己的家人，她不害怕風雪，因為全家上下，都穿雙料衣裳。
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
她為自己做了華麗的舖蓋，身穿的是細麻和紫錦的衣裳。
23 Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
她的丈夫與當地長老同席，在城門口深為眾人所認識。
24 She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
她紡織紗布予以出售，又製造腰帶賣與商賈。
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
剛毅和尊嚴是她的服飾，一念及將來便笑容滿面。
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
她一開口即傾吐智慧，舌上常有仁慈的訓誨。
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
她不斷督察家務，從不白吃閒飯。
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
她的子女起來向她祝福，她的丈夫對她讚不絕口：「
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
30 Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
姿色是虛幻，美麗是泡影；敬畏上主的女人，纔堪當受人讚美。
31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
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!
