מִשְׁלֵי 31

1 דברי למואל מלך-- משא אשר-יסרתו אמו

My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.

2 מה-ברי ומה-בר-בטני ומה בר-נדרי

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?

3 אל-תתן לנשים חילך ודרכיך למחות מלכין

Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.

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

Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

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

lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.

6 תנו-שכר לאובד ויין למרי נפש

Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:

7 ישתה וישכח רישו ועמלו לא יזכר-עוד

that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.

8 פתח-פיך לאלם אל-דין כל-בני חלוף

Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.

9 פתח-פיך שפט-צדק ודין עני ואביון

Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

10 אשת-חיל מי ימצא ורחק מפנינים מכרה

Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.

11 בטח בה לב בעלה ושלל לא יחסר

The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.

12 גמלתהו טוב ולא-רע-- כל ימי חייה

For she employs all her living for her husband's good.

13 דרשה צמר ופשתים ותעש בחפץ כפיה

Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.

14 היתה כאניות סוחר ממרחק תביא לחמה

She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.

15 ותקם בעוד לילה--ותתן טרף לביתה וחק לנערתיה

And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.

16 זממה שדה ותקחהו מפרי כפיה נטע (נטעה) כרם

She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.

17 חגרה בעוז מתניה ותאמץ זרועתיה

She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.

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

And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.

19 ידיה שלחה בכישור וכפיה תמכו פלך

She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.

20 כפה פרשה לעני וידיה שלחה לאביון

And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.

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

Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.

22 מרבדים עשתה-לה שש וארגמן לבושה

She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.

23 נודע בשערים בעלה בשבתו עם-זקני-ארץ

And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.

24 סדין עשתה ותמכר וחגור נתנה לכנעני

She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.

25 עז-והדר לבושה ותשחק ליום אחרון

She puts on strength and honor; and rejoices in the last days.

26 פיה פתחה בחכמה ותורת חסד על-לשונה

But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.

27 צופיה הילכות (הליכות) ביתה ולחם עצלות לא תאכל

The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.

28 קמו בניה ויאשרוה בעלה ויהללה

And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.

29 רבות בנות עשו חיל ואת עלית על-כלנה

Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.

30 שקר החן והבל היפי אשה יראת-יהוה היא תתהלל

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.

31 תנו-לה מפרי ידיה ויהללוה בשערים מעשיה

Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.