1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.31.5 pervert: Heb. alter31.5 of any…: Heb. of all the sons of affliction 6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.31.6 of…: Heb. bitter of soul 7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.31.8 such…: Heb. the sons of destruction 9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.31.16 buyeth: Heb. taketh 17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.31.18 She…: Heb. She tasteth 19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.31.20 She…: Heb. She spreadeth 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.31.21 scarlet: or, double garments 22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.31.29 have…: or, have gotten riches 30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Ɔhene Lemuel Nsɛm
1Ɔhene Lemuel nsɛm a ɛyɛ nkɔmhyɛ a ne maame kyerɛɛ no:
2Ao me babarima, me yafunu ba,
Ao mebɔhyɛ ba,
3nsɛe wʼahoɔden wɔ mmaa31.3 Saa mmaa yi yɛ mmaa adwamanfoɔ a wɔwɔ ahemfie a wɔbɛtumi atwe ɔhene adwene afiri nʼadwuma so. ho,
wɔn a wɔgu ahemfo asu no.
4Lemuel, nsã nyɛ mma ahemfo;
asanom nyɛ mma ahemfo,
ɛnsɛ sɛ sodifoɔ pere nsaden ho;
5sɛ wɔnom nsã a, wɔn werɛ bɛfiri deɛ mmara no ka,
na wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no rennya deɛ wɔwɔ ho ɛkwan.
6Fa nsaden ma wɔn a wɔresɛe,
na fa nsã ma wɔn a wɔwɔ amanehunu mu;
7Momma wɔnnom, na wɔn werɛ mfiri wɔn hia
na wɔnnkae wɔn awerɛhoɔ bio.
8Kasa ma wɔn a wɔntumi nkasa mma wɔn ho,
kasa ma mmɔborɔfoɔ yiedie.
9Kasa na bu atɛntenenee;
kasa ma ahiafoɔ ne onnibie yiedie.
Awieeɛ: Ɔyere A Ɔsom Bo
10Ɔyere pa, hwan na ɔbɛnya?
Ɔsom bo pa ara sene nhwene pa.
11Ne kunu wɔ ne mu ahotosoɔ pa ara
na biribiara a ɛwɔ boɔ nhia no.
12Ɔde deɛ ɛyɛ brɛ no, na ɛnyɛ ɔhaw,
ne nkwa nna nyinaa mu.
13Ɔhwehwɛ odwannwi ne asaawa
na ɔde ne nsa nwono wɔ fɛ so.
14Ɔte sɛ adwadifoɔ ahyɛn,
ɔde ne nnuane firi akyirikyiri ba.
15Adeɛ nnya nkyeeɛ no na wasɔre;
ɔsiesie aduane ma nʼabusuafoɔ
na ɔkyekyɛ nnwuma ma ne mmaawa.
16Ɔdwene afuo ho, na ɔtɔ;
ɔfiri deɛ ɔnya mu yɛ bobefuo.
17Ɔde nsi yɛ nʼadwuma;
nʼabasa mu wɔ ahoɔden ma nʼadwuma.
18Ɔhwɛ sɛ nʼadwadie ho wɔ mfasoɔ,
na ne kanea ɛnnum anadwo.
19Daa, na ne nsa kura tadua mu
a ne nsateaa nso retoatoa asaawa.
20Ɔgo ne nsam ma ahiafoɔ
na ne nsa so onibie so.
21Sɛ sukyerɛmma tɔ a ne yam nhyehye no wɔ ne fiefoɔ ho;
ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa wɔ aduradeɛ a wɔde ko awɔ.
22Ɔyɛ ne mpasotam;
na ɔfira nwera ne serekye ntoma.
23Ne kunu wɔ animuonyam wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano,
baabi a ɔne asase no so mpanimfoɔ tena.
24Ɔpempam nwera ntadeɛ tontɔn,
na ɔtu abɔwomu ma adwadifoɔ.
25Ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne animuonyam;
na ɔnsuro nna a ɛwɔ nʼanim.
26Ɔkasa nyansa mu,
na nokorɛ nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔ ne tɛkrɛma so.
27Ɔhwɛ ne fidua mu nnwuma so
na ɔnnyegye aniha so.
28Ne mma sɔre a wɔfrɛ no nhyira;
ne kunu nso saa ara, na ɔkamfo no sɛ,
29“Mmaa pii yɛ nneɛma a ɛwɔ edin,
na wo deɛ, wosene wɔn nyinaa.”
30Ɔbaa kɔnɔfoɔ yɛ nnaadaa, na ahoɔfɛ twam ntɛm so;
nanso ɔbaa a ɔsuro Awurade no fata nkamfoɔ.
31Fa abasobɔdeɛ a wanya no ma no,
na wɔnkamfo ne nnwuma wɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano.
