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。

1Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

4Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

5Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

10A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.

11The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.

14She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

15Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

16She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

18She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

21She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.

22Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.

23Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

24Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

25Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

26Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.

27She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

28Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

29'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

30The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

31Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!