Proverbs

给一君王的忠告

1利慕伊勒王的言语，是他母亲教训他的真言。

2我的儿啊，我腹中生的儿啊， 我许愿得的儿啊！我当怎样教训你呢？

3不要将你的精力给妇女； 也不要有败坏君王的行为。

4利慕伊勒啊，君王喝酒，君王喝酒不相宜； 王子说浓酒在那里也不相宜；

5恐怕喝了就忘记律例， 颠倒一切困苦人的是非。

6可以把浓酒给将亡的人喝， 把清酒给苦心的人喝，

7让他喝了，就忘记他的贫穷， 不再记念他的苦楚。

8你当为哑巴开口， 为一切孤独的伸冤。

9你当开口按公义判断， 为困苦和穷乏的辨屈。

论贤妻

10才德的妇人谁能得着呢？ 她的价值远胜过珍珠。

11她丈夫心里倚靠她， 必不缺少利益；

12她一生使丈夫有益无损。

13她寻找羊绒和麻， 甘心用手做工。

14她好像商船从远方运粮来，

15未到黎明她就起来， 把食物分给家中的人， 将当做的工分派婢女。

16她想得田地就买来； 用手所得之利栽种葡萄园。

17她以能力束腰， 使膀臂有力。

18她觉得所经营的有利； 她的灯终夜不灭。

19她手拿捻线竿， 手把纺线车。

20她张手周济困苦人， 伸手帮补穷乏人。

21她不因下雪为家里的人担心， 因为全家都穿着朱红衣服。

22她为自己制作绣花毯子； 她的衣服是细麻和紫色布做的。

23她丈夫在城门口与本地的长老同坐， 为众人所认识。

24她做细麻布衣裳出卖， 又将腰带卖与商家。

25能力和威仪是她的衣服； 她想到日后的景况就喜笑。

26她开口就发智慧； 她舌上有仁慈的法则。

27她观察家务， 并不吃闲饭。

28她的儿女起来称她有福； 她的丈夫也称赞她，

29说：才德的女子很多， 惟独你超过一切。

30艳丽是虚假的，美容是虚浮的； 惟敬畏耶和华的妇女必得称赞。

31愿她享受操作所得的； 愿她的工作在城门口荣耀她。

The Sayings for King Lemuel

1These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

2What shall I say,O my son?What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

3Do not spend your strength on womenor your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel,it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5lest they drink and forget what is decreed,depriving all the oppressed of justice.

6Give strong drink to one who is perishing,and wine to the bitter in soul.

7Let him drink and forget his poverty,and remember his misery no more.

8Open your mouth for those with no voice,for the cause of all the dispossessed.

9Open your mouth, judge righteously,and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

10A wifeof noble character, who can find?She is far more precious than rubies.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her,and he lacks nothing of value.

12She brings him good and not harmall the days of her life.

13She selects wool and flaxand works with eager hands.

14She is like the merchant ships,bringing her food from afar.

15She rises while it is still nightto provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

16She appraises a field and buys it;from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17She girds herselfwith strengthand shows that her arms are strong.

18She sees that her gain is good,and her lamp is not extinguished at night.

19She stretches out her hands to the distaffand grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20She opens her arms to the poorand reaches out her hands to the needy.

21When it snows, she has no fear for her household,for they are all clothed in scarlet.

22She makes coverings for her bed;her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23Her husband is known at the city gates,where he sits among the elders of the land.

24She makes linen garments and sells them;she delivers sashes to the merchants.

25Strength and honor are her clothing,and she can laugh at the days to come.

26She opens her mouth with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27She watches over the affairs of her householdand does not eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children rise up and call her blessed;her husband praises her as well:

29“Many daughters have done noble things,but you surpass them all!”

30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31Give her the fruit of her hands,and let her works praise her at the gates.