Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
利慕伊勒王的言語，是他母親教訓他的真言。
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?
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？
3 Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
不要將你的精力給婦女； 也不要有敗壞君王的行為。
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
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；
5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
恐怕喝了就忘記律例， 顛倒一切困苦人的是非。
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
可以把濃酒給將亡的人喝， 把清酒給苦心的人喝，
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
讓他喝了，就忘記他的貧窮， 不再記念他的苦楚。
8 Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
你當為啞巴開口， 為一切孤獨的伸冤。
9 Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
你當開口按公義判斷， 為困苦和窮乏的辨屈。
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
才德的婦人誰能得着呢？ 她的價值遠勝過珍珠。
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
她丈夫心裏倚靠她， 必不缺少利益；
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
她一生使丈夫有益無損。
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
她尋找羊羢和麻， 甘心用手做工。
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
她好像商船從遠方運糧來，
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
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。
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
她想得田地就買來； 用手所得之利栽種葡萄園。
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
她以能力束腰， 使膀臂有力。
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
她覺得所經營的有利； 她的燈終夜不滅。
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
她手拿撚線竿， 手把紡線車。
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
她張手賙濟困苦人， 伸手幫補窮乏人。
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
她不因下雪為家裏的人擔心， 因為全家都穿着朱紅衣服。
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
她為自己製作繡花毯子； 她的衣服是細麻和紫色布做的。
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
她丈夫在城門口與本地的長老同坐， 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.
她做細麻布衣裳出賣， 又將腰帶賣與商家。
25 She puts on strength and honor; and rejoices in the last days.
能力和威儀是她的衣服； 她想到日後的景況就喜笑。
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
她開口就發智慧； 她舌上有仁慈的法則。
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
她觀察家務， 並不吃閒飯。
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
她的兒女起來稱她有福； 她的丈夫也稱讚她，
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
說：才德的女子很多， 惟獨你超過一切。
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.
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。
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
願她享受操作所得的； 願她的工作在城門口榮耀她。
