Engero 31
1 Ebigambo bya kabaka Lemweri bye yayogera, nnyina bye yamuyigiriza.
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 Ggwe mutabani wange, ggwe mutabani w’enda yange, ggwe mutabani w’obweyamo bwange.
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Tomaliranga maanyi go ku bakazi, newaakubadde amaanyi go ku abo abazikiriza bakabaka.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
4 Ggwe Lemweri, si kya bakabaka, si kya bakabaka okunywanga omwenge, so si kya balangira okwegombanga omwenge,
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
5 si kulwa nga bagunywa ne beerabira amateeka, ne batalamula mu bwenkanya abantu baabwe abatulugunyizibwa.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Ekitamiiza mukiwenga oyo ayagala okufa, n’omwenge oyo alina emmeeme eriko obuyinike.
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 Mumuleke anywenga yeerabire obwavu bwe, alemenga kujjukira nate buyinike bwe.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Yogereranga abo abatasobola kweyogerera, otunulenga mu nsonga z’abo bonna abaasigala ettayo.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Yogera olamulenga n’obwenkanya, olwanirirenga abaavu n’abali mu bwetaavu.
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Omukazi omwegendereza ani ayinza okumulaba? Wa muwendo nnyo okusinga amayinja ag’omuwendo ennyo.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 Bba amwesiga n’omutima gwe gwonna, era bba talina kyonna kya muwendo ky’abulwa.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 Aleetera bba essanyu so tamukola kabi, obulamu bwe bwonna.
She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
13 Anoonya ebyoya by’endiga n’anoonya ne ppamba, n’akola emirimu gye mu ssanyu eritayogerekeka.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
14 Ali ng’ebyombo by’abasuubuzi, aleeta emmere okuva mu nsi ezeewala.
She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 Agolokoka tebunnakya, n’awa ab’omu nnyumba ye ebyokulya, n’agabira abaweereza be abawala be abaweereza emirimu egy’okukola.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
16 Alowooza ku nnimiro n’agigula; asimba ennimiro ey’emizabbibu n’ebibala by’emikono gye.
She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 Omukazi oyo akola n’amaanyi omulimu gwe, emikono gye gikwata n’amaanyi emirimu gye.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 Ayiiya ebyamaguzi ebirimu amagoba n’abisuubula, era n’ettabaaza ye ekiro tezikira.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 Anyweza omuti oguluka ppamba mu mukono gwe, engalo ze ne zikwata akati akalanga.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 Ayanjululiza abaavu omukono gwe, n’agololera omukono gwe oyo ali mu bwetaavu.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
21 Mu biseera by’obutiti taba na kutya, kubanga ab’omu nnyumba ye bonna baba n’engoye ez’okwambala.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 Yeekolera ebibikka obuliri bwe, era engoye ze za linena omulungi, za ffulungu.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Bba amanyibbwa, y’omu ku bakulu abakulembera ensi, era ateeseza mu nkiiko enkulu.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 Omukazi atunga ebyambalo ebya linena n’abitunda, n’aguza abasuubuzi enkoba.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Amaanyi n’ekitiibwa bye byambalo bye, era tatya ebiro ebigenda okujja.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 Ayogera n’amagezi, era ayigiriza ebyekisa.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 Alabirira nnyo empisa z’ab’omu nnyumba ye, era talya mmere ya bugayaavu.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Abaana be bagolokoka ne bamuyita wa mukisa, ne bba n’amutendereza ng’ayogera nti,
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
29 “Abakazi bangi abakola eby’ekitiibwa naye bonna ggwe obasinga.”
Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
30 Obubalagavu bulimba n’endabika ennungi teriiko kyegasa, naye omukazi atya Mukama anaatenderezebwanga.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
31 Mumusasule empeera gy’akoleredde, n’emirimu gye gimuweesenga ettendo ku miryango gy’ekibuga.
Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
