Proverbiorum 31
1 Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio, qua erudivit eum mater sua.
These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
2 Quid dilecte mi, quid dilecte uteri mei, quid dilecte votorum meorum?
You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
3 Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam, et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.
Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
4 Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum: quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas.
Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
5 et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur iudiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.
If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
6 Date siceram mœrentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo:
Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
7 bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suæ, et doloris sui non recordentur amplius.
If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
8 Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt:
Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
9 aperi os tuum, decerne quod iustum est, et iudica inopem et pauperem.
Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
10 Mulierem fortem quis inveniet? procul, et de ultimis finibus pretium eius.
It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
11 Confidit in ea cor viri sui, et spoliis non indigebit.
Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
12 Reddet ei bonum, et non malum, omnibus diebus vitæ suæ.
She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
13 Quæsivit lanam et linum, et operata est consilia manuum suarum.
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum.
She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
15 Et de nocte surrexit, deditque prædam domesticis suis, et cibaria ancillis suis.
She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
16 Consideravit agrum, et emit eum: de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam.
She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
17 Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos, et roboravit brachium suum.
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 Gustavit, et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius.
She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
19 Manum suam misit ad fortia, et digiti eius apprehenderunt fusum.
She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
20 Manum suam aperuit inopi, et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem.
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 Non timebit domui suæ a frigoribus nivis: omnes enim domestici eius vestiti sunt duplicibus.
She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
22 Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi: byssus, et purpura indumentum eius.
She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
23 Nobilis in portis vir eius, quando sederit cum senatoribus terræ.
Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
24 Sindonem fecit, et vendidit, et cingulum tradidit Chananæo.
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius, et ridebit in die novissimo.
She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
26 Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua eius.
When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
27 Consideravit semitas domus suæ, et panem otiosa non comedit.
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 Surrexerunt filii eius, et beatissimam prædicaverunt: vir eius, et laudavit eam.
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 Multæ filiæ congregaverunt divitias: tu supergressa es universas.
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Fallax gratia, et vana est pulchritudo: mulier timens Dominum ipsa laudabitur.
Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
31 Date ei de fructu manuum suarum: et laudent eam in portis opera eius.
Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
