Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
瑪薩的君王肋慕耳的格言，是他母親教給他的：
2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
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 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
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 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
肋慕耳! 清酒不宜於君王，醇酒不宜於公侯，
5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
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 those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
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 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
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 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
你應為啞吧開口，為被棄的人辯護；
9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
你應開口秉公行審，應為貧苦弱小辯護。
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
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 trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
她的丈夫對她衷心信賴，一切所需從來不會缺少。
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
她一生歲月，只叫他幸福，不給他煩惱。
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
她弄來羊毛細麻，愉快地親手勞作。
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
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 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
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 strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
她發覺自己經營生利，她的燈盞夜間仍不熄滅。
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
對貧苦的人，她隨手賙濟；對無靠的人，她伸手扶助。
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
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 her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
她為自己做了華麗的舖蓋，身穿的是細麻和紫錦的衣裳。
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants 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 fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
她紡織紗布予以出售，又製造腰帶賣與商賈。
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
剛毅和尊嚴是她的服飾，一念及將來便笑容滿面。
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
她一開口即傾吐智慧，舌上常有仁慈的訓誨。
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
她不斷督察家務，從不白吃閒飯。
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
她的子女起來向她祝福，她的丈夫對她讚不絕口：「
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
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 of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
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!
