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.
Mawu a Mfumu Lemueli
1Nawa mawu a mfumu Lemueli wa ku Massa amene anamuphunzitsa amayi ake:
2Nʼchiyani mwana wanga? Nʼchiyani mwana wa mʼmimba mwanga?
Nʼchiyani iwe mwana wanga amene ndinachita kupempha ndi malumbiro?
3Usapereke mphamvu yako kwa akazi.
Usamayenda nawo amenewa popeza amawononga ngakhale mafumu.
4Iwe Lemueli si choyenera kwa mafumu,
mafumu sayenera kumwa vinyo.
Olamulira asamalakalake chakumwa choledzeretsa
5kuopa kuti akamwa adzayiwala malamulo a dziko,
nayamba kukhotetsa zinthu zoyenera anthu osauka.
6Perekani chakumwa choledzeretsa kwa amene ali pafupi kufa,
vinyo kwa amene ali pa mavuto woopsa;
7amwe kuti ayiwale umphawi wawo
asakumbukirenso kuvutika kwawo.
8Yankhula mʼmalo mwa amene sangathe kudziyankhulira okha.
Uwayankhulire anthu onse osiyidwa pa zonse zowayenera.
9Yankhula ndi kuweruza mwachilungamo.
Uwateteze amphawi ndi osauka.
Mathero: Mkazi Wangwiro
10Kodi mkazi wangwiro angathe kumupeza ndani?
Ndi wokwera mtengo kuposa miyala yamtengowapatali.
11Mtima wa mwamuna wake umamukhulupirira
ndipo mwamunayo sasowa phindu.
12Masiku onse a moyo wake
mkaziyo amachitira mwamuna wake zabwino zokhazokha osati zoyipa.
13Iye amafunafuna ubweya ndi thonje;
amagwira ntchito ndi manja ake mwaufulu.
14Iye ali ngati sitima zapamadzi za anthu amalonda,
amakatenga chakudya chake kutali.
15Iye amadzuka kusanache kwenikweni;
ndi kuyamba kukonzera a pa banja pake chakudya
ndi kuwagawira ntchito atsikana ake antchito.
16Iye amalingalira za munda ndi kuwugula;
ndi ndalama zimene wazipeza amalima munda wamphesa.
17Iye amavala zilimbe
nagwira ntchito mwamphamvu ndi manja ake.
18Iye amaona kuti malonda ake ndi aphindu,
choncho nyale yake sizima usiku wonse.
19Iye amadzilukira thonje
ndipo yekha amagwira chowombera nsalu.
20Iye amachitira chifundo anthu osauka
ndipo amapereka chithandizo kwa anthu osowa.
21Iye saopa kuti banja lake lifa ndi kuzizira pa nyengo yachisanu;
pakuti onse amakhala atavala zovala zofunda.
22Iye amadzipangira yekha zoyala pa bedi pake;
amavala zovala zabafuta ndi zapepo.
23Mwamuna wake ndi wodziwika pa chipata cha mzinda,
ndipo amakhala pakati pa akuluakulu a mʼdzikomo.
24Iye amasoka nsalu zabafuta nazigulitsa;
amaperekanso mipango kwa anthu amalonda.
25Mphamvu ndi ulemu zimakhala ngati chovala chake;
ndipo amaseka osaopa zamʼtsogolo.
26Iye amayankhula mwanzeru,
amaphunzitsa anthu mwachikondi.
27Iye amayangʼanira makhalidwe a anthu a pa banja lake
ndipo sachita ulesi ndi pangʼono pomwe.
28Ana ake amamunyadira ndipo amamutcha kuti wodala;
ndipo mwamuna wake, amamuyamikira nʼkumati,
29“Pali akazi ambiri amene achita zinthu zopambana
koma iwe umawaposa onsewa.”
30Nkhope yachikoka ndi yonyenga, ndipo kukongola nʼkosakhalitsa;
koma mkazi amene amaopa Yehova ayenera kutamandidwa.
31Mupatseni mphotho chifukwa cha zimene iye wachita
ndipo ntchito zake zimutamande ku mabwalo.
