מִשְׁלֵי 31

1 דברי למואל מלך-- משא אשר-יסרתו אמו

The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.

2 מה-ברי ומה-בר-בטני ומה בר-נדרי

What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?

3 אל-תתן לנשים חילך ודרכיך למחות מלכין

Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.

4 אל למלכים למואל--אל למלכים שתו-יין ולרוזנים או (אי) שכר

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?

5 פן-ישתה וישכח מחקק וישנה דין כל-בני-עני

For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.

6 תנו-שכר לאובד ויין למרי נפש

Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:

7 ישתה וישכח רישו ועמלו לא יזכר-עוד

Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.

8 פתח-פיך לאלם אל-דין כל-בני חלוף

Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.

9 פתח-פיך שפט-צדק ודין עני ואביון

Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.

10 אשת-חיל מי ימצא ורחק מפנינים מכרה

Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.

11 בטח בה לב בעלה ושלל לא יחסר

The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.

12 גמלתהו טוב ולא-רע-- כל ימי חייה

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 דרשה צמר ופשתים ותעש בחפץ כפיה

She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.

14 היתה כאניות סוחר ממרחק תביא לחמה

She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.

15 ותקם בעוד לילה--ותתן טרף לביתה וחק לנערתיה

She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.

16 זממה שדה ותקחהו מפרי כפיה נטע (נטעה) כרם

After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.

17 חגרה בעוז מתניה ותאמץ זרועתיה

She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.

18 טעמה כי-טוב סחרה לא-יכבה בליל (בלילה) נרה

She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.

19 ידיה שלחה בכישור וכפיה תמכו פלך

She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.

20 כפה פרשה לעני וידיה שלחה לאביון

Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.

21 לא-תירא לביתה משלג כי כל-ביתה לבש שנים

She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.

22 מרבדים עשתה-לה שש וארגמן לבושה

She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.

23 נודע בשערים בעלה בשבתו עם-זקני-ארץ

Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.

24 סדין עשתה ותמכר וחגור נתנה לכנעני

She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.

25 עז-והדר לבושה ותשחק ליום אחרון

Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.

26 פיה פתחה בחכמה ותורת חסד על-לשונה

Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.

27 צופיה הילכות (הליכות) ביתה ולחם עצלות לא תאכל

She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.

28 קמו בניה ויאשרוה בעלה ויהללה

Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,

29 רבות בנות עשו חיל ואת עלית על-כלנה

Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.

30 שקר החן והבל היפי אשה יראת-יהוה היא תתהלל

Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.

31 תנו-לה מפרי ידיה ויהללוה בשערים מעשיה

Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.