Proverbs

利慕伊勒王的言語，是他母親教訓他的真言：

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

「我兒，我所生的兒，還有甚麼話可說？我祈禱所得的兒，還有甚麼話可說？

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

不要將你的精力給婦女，也不要有敗壞君王的行為。

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

利慕伊勒啊，君王喝酒不相宜，不相宜；王子說：「在哪裡有濃酒？」也不相宜；

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

恐怕喝了就忘記律例，顛倒一切困苦人的是非。

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

可以把濃酒給將亡的人喝，把清酒給苦心的人喝；

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

讓他喝了，就忘記他的貧窮，不再記念他的苦楚。

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

你當為啞巴開口，為一切孤獨的伸冤。

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

你當開口，按公義判斷，為困苦和窮乏的辨屈。

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

才德的婦人誰能得著呢？她的價值遠勝過珍珠。

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

她丈夫心裡倚靠她，必不缺少利益。

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

她一生使丈夫有益無損。

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

她尋找羊絨和麻，甘心用手做工。

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

她好像商船從遠方運糧來，

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

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。

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

她想得一塊田，就買來；用手所得之利栽種葡萄園。

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

她腰間有力，她的膀臂有勁。

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

她看出所經營的有利，她的燈終夜不滅。

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

她伸手拿撚線竿，用手握紡線錘。

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

她張手周濟困苦人，伸手幫補窮乏人。

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

她不因下雪為家裡的人擔心，因為全家都穿著朱紅衣服。

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

她為自己製作繡花毯子；她的衣服是細麻和紫色布做的。

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

她丈夫在城門口與本地的長老同坐，為眾人所認識。

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

她做細麻布衣裳出售，又將腰帶賣給商家。

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

能力和威儀是她的衣服；她想到日後的景況便喜笑。

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

她開口就發智慧；她舌上有仁慈的法則。

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

她觀察家務，不吃閒飯。

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

她的兒女起來稱她有福；她的丈夫也稱讚她，說：

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

「才德的女子很多，惟獨你超過一切。」

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

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。

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

願她享受操作所得的；願她的工作在城門口榮耀她。

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.