Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
瑪薩的君王肋慕耳的格言，是他母親教給他的：
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb, and what, O 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 strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth 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 drink wine; nor for princes [to say], Where is strong drink?
肋慕耳! 清酒不宜於君王，醇酒不宜於公侯，
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any that is afflicted.
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 unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter in soul:
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 drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no 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 for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are left desolate.
你應為啞吧開口，為被棄的人辯護；
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister judgment to the poor and needy.
你應開口秉公行審，應為貧苦弱小辯護。
10 A virtuous woman who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
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 trusteth in her, and he shall have no lack of gain.
她的丈夫對她衷心信賴，一切所需從來不會缺少。
12 She doeth 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 seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
她弄來羊毛細麻，愉快地親手勞作。
14 She is like the merchant-ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and their task 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 considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
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 girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: her lamp goeth not out by night.
她發覺自己經營生利，她的燈盞夜間仍不熄滅。
19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
20 She spreadeth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
對貧苦的人，她隨手賙濟；對無靠的人，她伸手扶助。
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
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 maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; her clothing is fine 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 known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders 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 maketh linen garments and selleth them; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
她紡織紗布予以出售，又製造腰帶賣與商賈。
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; and she laugheth at the time to come.
剛毅和尊嚴是她的服飾，一念及將來便笑容滿面。
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
她一開口即傾吐智慧，舌上常有仁慈的訓誨。
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
她不斷督察家務，從不白吃閒飯。
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her, [saying]:
她的子女起來向她祝福，她的丈夫對她讚不絕口：「
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: [but] a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall 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 of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her 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!
