Sayings of King Lemuel
1The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3Do not spend your strength31:3 Or wealth on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
7Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
1031:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
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不要在女人身上耗费精力，
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把烈酒给行将灭亡的人，
把淡酒给心中忧伤的人，
7让他们喝了忘掉自己的贫穷，
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你要开口秉公审判，
为贫穷困苦者辩护。
贤德的妻子
1031:10 10-30节是字母诗，每一节依次由一个希伯来字母开头。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，
分派婢女做家事。
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。
