Proverbs 31

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

1 利慕伊勒王的言語，是他母親教訓他的真言。

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

2 我的兒啊，我腹中生的兒啊， 我許願得的兒啊！我當怎樣教訓你呢？

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

3 不要將你的精力給婦女； 也不要有敗壞君王的行為。

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

4 利慕伊勒啊，君王喝酒，君王喝酒不相宜； 王子說濃酒在那裏也不相宜；

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

5 恐怕喝了就忘記律例， 顛倒一切困苦人的是非。

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

6 可以把濃酒給將亡的人喝， 把清酒給苦心的人喝，

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

7 讓他喝了，就忘記他的貧窮， 不再記念他的苦楚。

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

8 你當為啞巴 開口， 為一切孤獨的伸冤。

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

9 你當開口按公義判斷， 為困苦和窮乏的辨屈。

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

10 才德的婦人誰能得着呢？ 她的價值遠勝過珍珠。

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

11 她丈夫心裏倚靠她， 必不缺少利益；

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

12 她一生使丈夫有益無損。

13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

13 她尋找羊羢和麻， 甘心用手做工。

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

14 她好像商船從遠方運糧來，

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

15 未到黎明她就起來， 把食物分給家中的人， 將當做的工分派婢女。

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

16 她想得田地就買來； 用手所得之利栽種葡萄園。

17 She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.

17 她以能力束腰， 使膀臂有力。

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

18 她覺得所經營的有利； 她的燈終夜不滅。

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

19 她手拿撚線竿， 手把紡線車。

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

20 她張手賙濟困苦人， 伸手幫補窮乏人。

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

21 她不因下雪為家裏的人擔心， 因為全家都穿着朱紅衣服。

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

22 她為自己製作繡花毯子； 她的衣服是細麻和紫色布做的。

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

23 她丈夫在城門口與本地的長老同坐， 為眾人所認識。

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

24 她做細麻布衣裳出賣， 又將腰帶賣與商家。

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

25 能力和威儀是她的衣服； 她想到日後的景況就喜笑。

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

26 她開口就發智慧； 她舌上有仁慈的法則。

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

27 她觀察家務， 並不吃閒飯。

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

28 她的兒女起來稱她有福； 她的丈夫也稱讚她，

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

29 說：才德的女子很多， 惟獨你超過一切。

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

30 艷麗是虛假的，美容是虛浮的； 惟敬畏耶和華的婦女必得稱讚。

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

31 願她享受操作所得的； 願她的工作在城門口榮耀她。