Proverbs 31
Holman 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, they[b] will drink,
forget what is decreed,(G)
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.[c](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[d] for those who have no voice,[e](K)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[f]
9 Speak up,[g] judge righteously,(L)
and defend the cause of[h] the oppressed and needy.(M)
In Praise of a Capable Wife
10 Who can find a capable wife?[i](N)
She is far more precious than jewels.[j]
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[k] for her female servants.(Q)
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.[l](R)
17 She draws on her strength[m]
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[n] 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.[o]
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[p] to the merchants.
25 Strength(AA) and honor are her clothing,(AB)
and she can laugh at the time to come.(AC)
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom
and loving instruction[q] is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household(AD)
and is never idle.[r]
28 Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[s] are capable,
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,[t]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:1 Or of Lemuel, king of Massa, or of King Lemuel, a burden
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit he
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit Open your mouth
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit who are mute
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away
- Proverbs 31:9 Lit Open your mouth
- Proverbs 31:9 Lit and justice for
- Proverbs 31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a wife of noble character
- Proverbs 31:10 Vv. 10-31 form an acrostic.
- Proverbs 31:15 Or tasks
- Proverbs 31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors
- Proverbs 31:17 Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
- Proverbs 31:20 Lit Her hand reaches
- Proverbs 31:21 LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
- Proverbs 31:24 Or sashes
- Proverbs 31:26 Or and the teaching of kindness
- Proverbs 31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
- Proverbs 31:29 Lit daughters
- Proverbs 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
箴言 31
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
利慕伊勒王的箴言
31 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 不要在女人身上耗废精力，
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 把烈酒给灭亡的人，
把淡酒给忧伤的人，
7 让他们喝了忘掉贫穷，
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 你要发言，秉公审判，
为贫穷困苦者主持公道。
贤德的妻子
10 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，
分派女仆做家事。
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。
Proverbs 31
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Teaching of King Lemuel’s Mother
31 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa,[a] which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? What, son of my womb?
What, son of my vows?
3 Give not your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to desire[b] strong drink;
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
7 let them drink and forget their poverty,
and remember their misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the dumb,
for the rights of all who are left desolate.[c]
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
maintain the rights of the poor and needy.
Ode to a Capable Wife
10 A good wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her loins with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:1 Or King Lemuel, the oracle
- Proverbs 31:4 Cn: Heb where
- Proverbs 31:8 Heb are sons of passing away
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Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.