Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—an instruction 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? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, 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 your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy 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, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
肋慕耳! 清酒不宜於君王，醇酒不宜於公侯，
5 because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the 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 to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
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 He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
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 Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
你應為啞吧開口，為被棄的人辯護；
9 Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
你應開口秉公行審，應為貧苦弱小辯護。
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
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, and he will never be poor.
她的丈夫對她衷心信賴，一切所需從來不會缺少。
12 She does good things for him 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 selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
她弄來羊毛細麻，愉快地親手勞作。
14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
她宛如一隻商船，由遠處運來食糧。
15 She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
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 considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants 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 dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
她以勇力束腰，增強自己臂力。
18 She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
她發覺自己經營生利，她的燈盞夜間仍不熄滅。
19 She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。
20 She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
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 in 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 makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
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 at the gates, when he sits 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 She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
她紡織紗布予以出售，又製造腰帶賣與商賈。
25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs 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 opens 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 watches over the ways of her household and does not eat 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, and her husband praises her, saying,
她的子女起來向她祝福，她的丈夫對她讚不絕口：「
29 “Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
賢淑的女子很多，唯有你超群群出眾。」
30 Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will 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 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!
