Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
Inilah perkataan-perkataan yang diucapkan oleh ibunda Lemuel, raja Masa kepada anaknya,
2 What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
"Anakku, buah hatiku, yang kulahirkan sebagai jawaban atas doaku. Apakah yang akan kukatakan kepadamu?
3 Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
Janganlah memboroskan tenagamu atau menghamburkan kekuatanmu kepada wanita. Sudah banyak raja yang hancur karena wanita.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
Ingatlah, Lemuel! Minum anggur dan ketagihan minuman keras, tidak pantas bagi penguasa.
5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
Sebab, apabila raja minum minuman keras, ia lupa akan hukum dan tidak menghiraukan hak orang lemah.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
Minuman keras adalah untuk mereka yang merana dan bersedih hati.
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
Mereka minum untuk melupakan kemiskinan dan kesusahan mereka.
8 Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Belalah mereka yang tak dapat membela dirinya sendiri. Lindungilah hak semua orang yang tak berdaya.
9 Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Berjuanglah untuk mereka, dan jadilah hakim yang adil. Lindungilah hak orang miskin dan orang tertindas."
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
Istri yang cakap sukar ditemukan; ia lebih berharga daripada intan berlian.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
Suaminya tak akan kekurangan apa-apa, karena menaruh kepercayaan kepadanya.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
Ia tak pernah berbuat jahat kepada suaminya; sepanjang umurnya ia berbuat baik kepadanya.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
Ia rajin mengumpulkan rami dan bulu domba lalu sibuk bekerja menenunnya.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
Dari jauh ia mendatangkan makanan, seperti yang dilakukan oleh kapal-kapal pedagang.
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
Pagi-pagi buta ia bangun untuk menyiapkan makanan bagi keluarganya, dan untuk membagi-bagikan tugas kepada pelayan-pelayannya.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
Ia mencari sebidang tanah, lalu membelinya; ia mengusahakan sebuah kebun anggur dari pendapatannya.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
Ia menyiapkan dirinya untuk bekerja sekuat tenaga.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
Ia tahu bahwa segala sesuatu yang dibuatnya, menguntungkan; ia bekerja sampai jauh malam.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
Benang dipintalnya dan kain ditenunnya.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
Ia tidak kikir kepada yang berkekurangan; ia baik hati kepada yang memerlukan pertolongan.
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
Ia tidak khawatir apabila musim dingin tiba, karena baju panas tersedia bagi keluarganya.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
Ia sendiri yang membuat permadaninya; pakaiannya dari kain lenan ungu yang mewah.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Suaminya adalah orang ternama--salah seorang dari antara para pemimpin kota.
24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
Ia membuat pakaian dan ikat pinggang lalu menjualnya kepada pedagang.
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
Ia berwibawa dan dihormati; dan tidak khawatir tentang hari nanti.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
Dengan lemah lembut ia berbicara; kata-katanya bijaksana.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
Ia selalu rajin bekerja dan memperhatikan urusan rumah tangganya.
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
Ia dihargai oleh anak-anaknya, dan dipuji oleh suaminya.
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
"Ada banyak wanita yang baik," kata suaminya, "tetapi engkau yang paling baik dari mereka semua."
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.
Paras yang manis tak dapat dipercaya, dan kecantikan akan hilang; tetapi wanita yang taat kepada TUHAN layak mendapat pujian.
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Balaslah segala kebaikannya; ia wanita yang patut dihormati di mana-mana!
