利慕伊勒王的箴言
1以下是利慕伊勒王的箴言，
是他母亲给他的教诲：
2我儿，我亲生的骨肉，
我许愿得来的孩子啊，
我该怎样教导你呢？
3不要在女人身上耗废精力，
不要迷恋那些能毁灭王的人。
4利慕伊勒啊，
君王不可喝酒，
不可喝酒，
首领不宜喝烈酒，
5免得喝酒后忘记律例，
不为困苦人伸张正义。
6把烈酒给灭亡的人，
把淡酒给忧伤的人，
7让他们喝了忘掉贫穷，
不再记得自己的痛苦。
8要为不能自辩者说话，
为一切不幸的人申冤。
9你要发言，秉公审判，
为贫穷困苦者主持公道。
贤德的妻子
10谁能找到贤德之妻？
她的价值远胜过珠宝。
11她丈夫信赖她，
什么也不缺乏。
12她一生对丈夫有益无损。
13她寻找羊毛和细麻，
愉快地亲手做衣。
14她好像商船，
从远方运来粮食。
15天未亮她就起床，
为全家预备食物，
分派女仆做家事。
16她选中田地便买下来，
亲手赚钱栽种葡萄园。
17她精力充沛，
双臂有力。
18她深谙经营之道，
她的灯彻夜不熄。
19她手拿卷线杆，
手握纺线锤。
20她乐于周济穷人，
伸手帮助困苦者。
21她不因下雪而为家人担心，
因为全家都穿着朱红暖衣。
22她为自己缝制绣花毯，
用细麻和紫布做衣服。
23她丈夫在城门口与当地长老同坐，
受人尊重。
24她缝制细麻衣裳出售，
又制作腰带卖给商人。
25她充满力量和尊荣，
她以笑颜迎接未来。
26她说的话带着智慧，
她的训言充满慈爱。
27她料理一切家务，
从不偷懒吃闲饭。
28她的儿女肃立，
为她祝福，
她的丈夫也称赞她，
29说：“世上贤德的女子很多，
唯有你无与伦比。”
30艳丽是虚假的，
美貌是短暂的，
唯有敬畏耶和华的女子配得称赞。
31愿她享受自己的劳动成果，
愿她的事迹使她在城门口受称赞。
The Sayings of King Lemuel
1These are the sayings of King Lemuel. His mother taught them to him. These sayings came from God.
2Listen, my son! Listen, my very own son!
Listen, you who are the answer to my prayers!
3Don’t waste your strength on women.
Don’t waste it on those who destroy kings.
4Lemuel, it isn’t good for kings to drink wine.
It isn’t good for rulers to long for beer.
5If they do, they might drink and forget what has been commanded.
They might take away the rights of all those who are treated badly.
6Let beer be for those who are dying.
Let wine be for those who are sad and troubled.
7Let them drink and forget how poor they are.
Let them forget their suffering.
8Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.
9Speak up and judge fairly.
Speak up for the rights of those who are poor and needy.
The Excellent Woman
10Who can find an excellent woman?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11Her husband trusts her completely.
She gives him all the important things he needs.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She chooses wool and flax.
She loves to work with her hands.
14She is like the ships of traders.
She brings her food from far away.
15She gets up while it is still night.
She provides food for her family.
She also gives some to her female servants.
16She considers a field and buys it.
She uses some of the money she earns to plant a vineyard.
17She gets ready to work hard.
Her arms are strong.
18She sees that her trading earns a lot of money.
Her lamp doesn’t go out at night.
19With one hand she holds the wool.
With the other she spins the thread.
20She opens her arms to those who are poor.
She reaches out her hands to those who are needy.
21When it snows, she’s not afraid for her family.
All of them are dressed in the finest clothes.
22She makes her own bed coverings.
She is dressed in fine linen and purple clothes.
23Her husband is respected at the city gate.
There he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen clothes and sells them.
She supplies belts to the traders.
25She puts on strength and honor as if they were her clothes.
She can laugh at the days that are coming.
26She speaks wisely.
She teaches faithfully.
27She watches over family matters.
She is busy all the time.
28Her children stand up and call her blessed.
Her husband also rises up, and he praises her.
29He says, “Many women do excellent things.
But you are better than all the others.”
30Charm can fool you. Beauty fades.
But a woman who has respect for the Lord should be praised.
31Give her honor for all that her hands have done.
Let everything she has done bring praise to her at the city gate.
