Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
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, the son of my womb? aye what, the 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 Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin 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 dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
肋慕耳! 清酒不宜於君王，醇酒不宜於公侯，
5 Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
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 that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered 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, his wearying toil, let him remember 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, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
你應為啞吧開口，為被棄的人辯護；
9 Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the 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, far beyond corals, is her worth.
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 her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
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 ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
15 And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a 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 procureth it, Out of 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, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
18 She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and 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 Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
20 Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth 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 feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
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 Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
她為自己做了華麗的舖蓋，身穿的是細麻和紫錦的衣裳。
23 Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with 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 Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
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 Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction 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 goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
她不斷督察家務，從不白吃閒飯。
28 Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth 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 done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
30 Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, 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 own hands, and let her own 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!
