Proverbiorum 31
1 verba Lamuhel 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 vias 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 Lamuhel 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 ne forte bibat et obliviscatur iudiciorum et mutet 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 maerentibus 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 ut obliviscantur egestatis suae et doloris 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 aleph 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 beth 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 gimel reddet ei bonum et non malum omnibus diebus vitae suae
She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
13 deleth quaesivit lanam et linum et operata est consilio manuum suarum
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 he facta est quasi navis institoris de longe portat 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 vav et de nocte surrexit deditque praedam 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 zai 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 heth accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos et roboravit brachium suum
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 teth gustavit quia bona est negotiatio eius non extinguetur in nocte lucerna illius
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 ioth manum suam misit ad fortia et digiti eius adprehenderunt 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 caph manum suam aperuit inopi et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 lameth non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis omnes enim domestici eius vestiti 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 mem stragulam 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 nun nobilis in portis vir eius quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae
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 samech sindonem fecit et vendidit et cingulum tradidit Chananeo
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 ain 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 phe os suum aperuit sapientiae et lex clementiae in lingua eius
When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
27 sade considerat semitas domus suae et panem otiosa non comedet
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 coph surrexerunt filii eius et beatissimam praedicaverunt vir eius et laudavit eam
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 res multae filiae congregaverunt divitias tu supergressa es universas
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30 sin 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 thau 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.
