< 箴言 知恵の泉 31 >
1 レムエル王のことば即ちその母の彼に教へし箴言なり
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2 わが子よ何を言んか わが胎の子よ何をいはんか 我が願ひて得たる子よ何をいはんか
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3 なんぢの力を女につひやすなかれ 王を滅すものに汝の途をまかする勿れ
Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 レムエルよ酒を飮は王の爲べき事に非ず 王の爲べき事にあらず 醇醪を求むるは牧伯の爲すべき事にあらず
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5 恐くは洒を飮て律法をわすれ 且すべて惱まさるる者の審判を枉げん
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6 醇醪を亡びんとする者にあたへ 酒を心の傷める者にあたへよ
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 かれ飮てその貧窮をわすれ復その苦楚を憶はざるべし
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 なんぢ瘖者のため又すべての孤者の訟のために口をひらけ
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 なんぢ口をひらきて義しき審判をなし貧者と窮乏者の訟を糺せ
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10 誰か賢き女を見出すことを得ん その價は眞珠よりも貴とし
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
11 その夫の心は彼を恃み その産業は乏しくならじ
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 彼が存命ふる間はその夫に善事をなして惡き事をなさず
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15 夜のあけぬ先に起てその家人に糧をあたへ その婢女に日用の分をあたふ
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16 田畝をはかりて之を買ひ その手の操作をもて葡萄園を植ゑ
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 彼はその利潤の益あるを知る その燈火は終夜きえず
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out by night.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 彼は家人の爲に雪をおそれず 蓋その家人みな蕃紅の衣をきればなり
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 彼はおのれの爲に美しき褥子をつくり 細布と紫とをもてその衣とせり
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 その夫はその地の長老とともに邑の門に坐するによりて人に知らるるなり
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 彼は細布の衣を製りてこれをうり 帯をつくりて商賈にあたふ
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 彼は口を啓きて智慧をのぶ 仁愛の教誨その舌にあり
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 その衆子は起て彼を祝す その夫も彼を讃ていふ
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 賢く事をなす女子は多けれども 汝はすべての女子に愈れり
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30 艶麗はいつはりなり 美色は呼吸のごとし 惟ヱホバを畏るる女は誉られん
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 その手の操作の果をこれにあたへ その行爲によりてこれを邑の門にほめよ
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!