Proverbs 31
Christian Standard Bible
The Words of Lemuel
2 What should I say, my son?
What, son of my womb?(B)
What, son of my vows?
3 Don’t spend your energy(C) on women
or your efforts on those who destroy kings.(D)
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings(E) to drink wine(F)
or for rulers to desire beer.
5 Otherwise, he will drink,
forget what is decreed,(G)
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.[b](H)
6 Give beer to one who is dying
and wine to one whose life is bitter.(I)
7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
and remember his trouble no more.(J)
8 Speak up[c] for those who have no voice,[d](K)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[e]
9 Speak up, judge righteously,(L)
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.(M)
In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character
10 Who can find a wife of noble character?[f](N)
She is far more precious than jewels.[g]
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.(O)
15 She rises while it is still night(P)
and provides food for her household
and portions[h] for her female servants.(Q)
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.[i](R)
17 She draws on her strength[j]
and reveals that her arms are strong.(S)
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.(T)
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.(U)
20 Her hands reach[k] out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.(V)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.[l]
22 She makes her own bed coverings;(W)
her clothing is fine linen(X) and purple.(Y)
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.(Z)
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts[m] to the merchants.
25 Strength(AA) and honor are her clothing,(AB)
and she can laugh at the time to come.(AC)
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom,
and loving instruction[n] is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household(AD)
and is never idle.[o]
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[p] have done noble deeds,
but you surpass them all!” (AE)
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,(AF)
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor,[q]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
Footnotes
- 31:1 Or of Lemuel, king of Massa, or of King Lemuel, a burden
- 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
- 31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9
- 31:8 Lit who are mute
- 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away
- 31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a capable wife
- 31:10 Vv. 10–31 form an acrostic.
- 31:15 Or tasks
- 31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors
- 31:17 Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
- 31:20 Lit Her hand reaches
- 31:21 LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
- 31:24 Or sashes
- 31:26 Or and the teaching of kindness
- 31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
- 31:29 Lit daughters
- 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
Engero 31
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
Okulabula ku Kunywa Ekitamiiza
31 (A)Ebigambo bya kabaka Lemweri bye yayogera, nnyina bye yamuyigiriza.
2 (B)Ggwe mutabani wange, ggwe mutabani w’enda yange,
ggwe mutabani w’obweyamo bwange.
3 (C)Tomaliranga maanyi go ku bakazi,[a]
newaakubadde amaanyi go ku abo abazikiriza bakabaka.
4 (D)Ggwe Lemweri, si kya bakabaka,
si kya bakabaka okunywanga omwenge,
so si kya balangira okwegombanga omwenge,
5 (E)si kulwa nga bagunywa ne beerabira amateeka,
ne batalamula mu bwenkanya abantu baabwe abatulugunyizibwa.
6 (F)Ekitamiiza mukiwenga oyo ayagala okufa,
n’omwenge oyo alina emmeeme eriko obuyinike.
7 (G)Mumuleke anywenga yeerabire obwavu bwe,
alemenga kujjukira nate buyinike bwe.
8 (H)Yogereranga abo abatasobola kweyogerera,
otunulenga mu nsonga z’abo bonna abaasigala ettayo.
9 (I)Yogera olamulenga n’obwenkanya,
olwanirirenga abaavu n’abali mu bwetaavu.
Omukazi ow’Amagezi
10 (J)Omukazi omwegendereza ani ayinza okumulaba?
Wa muwendo nnyo okusinga amayinja ag’omuwendo ennyo.
11 (K)Bba amwesiga n’omutima gwe gwonna,
era bba talina kyonna kya muwendo ky’abulwa.
12 Aleetera bba essanyu so tamukola kabi,
obulamu bwe bwonna.
13 (L)Anoonya ebyoya by’endiga n’anoonya ne ppamba,
n’akola emirimu gye mu ssanyu eritayogerekeka.
14 Ali ng’ebyombo by’abasuubuzi,
aleeta emmere okuva mu nsi ezeewala.
15 Agolokoka tebunnakya,
n’awa ab’omu nnyumba ye ebyokulya,
n’agabira abaweereza be abawala be abaweereza emirimu egy’okukola.
16 Alowooza ku nnimiro n’agigula;
asimba ennimiro ey’emizabbibu n’ebibala by’emikono gye.
17 Omukazi oyo akola n’amaanyi omulimu gwe,
emikono gye gikwata n’amaanyi emirimu gye.
18 Ayiiya ebyamaguzi ebirimu amagoba n’abisuubula,
era n’ettabaaza ye ekiro tezikira.
19 Anyweza omuti oguluka ppamba mu mukono gwe,
engalo ze ne zikwata akati akalanga.
20 (M)Ayanjululiza abaavu omukono gwe,
n’agololera omukono gwe oyo ali mu bwetaavu.
21 Mu biseera by’obutiti taba na kutya,
kubanga ab’omu nnyumba ye bonna baba n’engoye ez’okwambala.
22 Yeekolera ebibikka obuliri bwe,
era engoye ze za linena omulungi, za ffulungu.[b]
23 (N)Bba amanyibbwa,
y’omu ku bakulu abakulembera ensi, era ateeseza mu nkiiko enkulu.
24 Omukazi atunga ebyambalo ebya linena n’abitunda,
n’aguza abasuubuzi enkoba.
25 Amaanyi n’ekitiibwa bye byambalo bye,
era tatya ebiro ebigenda okujja.
26 (O)Ayogera n’amagezi,
era ayigiriza ebyekisa.
27 Alabirira nnyo empisa z’ab’omu nnyumba ye,
era talya mmere ya bugayaavu.
28 Abaana be bagolokoka ne bamuyita wa mukisa,
ne bba n’amutendereza ng’ayogera nti,
29 “Abakazi bangi abakola eby’ekitiibwa
naye bonna ggwe obasinga.”
30 Obubalagavu bulimba n’endabika ennungi teriiko kyegasa,
naye omukazi atya Mukama anaatenderezebwanga.
31 (P)Mumusasule empeera gy’akoleredde,
n’emirimu gye gimuweesenga ettendo ku miryango gy’ekibuga.
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