Proverbs 31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Teaching of King Lemuel’s Mother
31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:(A)
2 No, my son! No, son of my womb!
No, son of my vows!(B)
3 Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.(C)
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine
or for rulers to desire[a] strong drink,(D)
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to one 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 Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute.[b](E)
9 Speak out; judge righteously;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.(F)
Ode to a Woman of Strength
10 A woman of strength who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.(G)
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.(H)
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her female servants.(I)
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself 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.(J)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all her household are clothed in crimson.(K)
22 She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land.(L)
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchant with sashes.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.(M)
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.(N)
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.(O)
28 Her children rise up and call her happy;
her husband, too, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”(P)
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.(Q)
31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.
箴言 31
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
贤母训子当秉公行义
31 利慕伊勒王的话,是 神的默示,
是他母亲教训他的:
2 “我儿,
我腹中生的儿啊!
我许愿所得的儿啊,我要对你说甚么呢?
3 不要把你的精力给妇女,
也不要有败坏君王的行为。
4 利慕伊勒啊!君王不可喝酒;
君王千万不可喝酒;
掌权的不可贪饮烈酒。
5 恐怕喝了酒,就忘记律例,
把困苦人的一切案件都颠倒了。
6 要把烈酒给将要灭亡的人喝;
把酒给心里愁苦的人喝;
7 让他喝了,就忘记自己的贫穷,
也不再记念自己的烦恼。
8 你要为不能自辩的人开口说话,
为所有贫苦的人伸冤。
9 你要开口说话,秉公审判,
为困苦和穷乏的人伸冤。”
敬畏耶和华的妇女
10 有才德的妻子,谁能得着呢?
她的价值远胜过红宝石。
11 她丈夫心里倚靠她,
就不会缺少收入。
12 她一生的年日,
只带给丈夫益处,没有害处。
13 她搜求羊毛和细麻,
乐意亲手作工。
14 她好象一队商船,
从远方运来食物。
15 天还未亮,她就起来,
把食物分给家人,
把当作的工分派众婢女。
16 她选择了一块田,就把它买下来,
用自己双手赚得的收入栽种葡萄园。
17 她以能力束腰,
使自己的膀臂有力。
18 她知道自己的经营获利,
她的灯终夜不灭。
19 她伸手拿着卷线竿,
手掌握着纺锤。
20 她张手赒济困苦人,
伸手帮助穷乏人。
21 她不因下雪为自己的家人担心,
因为她全家都穿著温暖的朱红色衣服。
22 她为自己做床毯,
她的衣服是细麻和紫色布料做的。
23 她丈夫与本地的长老在城门口同坐,
是众人都认识的。
24 她做细麻布衣服出售,
又供应腰带给商人。
25 她以能力和威仪为衣服,
想到日后的幸福就欢笑。
26 她开口就说出智慧的话;
她的舌头上充满慈爱的训诲。
27 她监管一切家务,
从不白吃闲饭。
28 她的儿女都起来称她是有福的,
她的丈夫也称赞她,说:
29 “有才德的女子很多,
但你比她们更超卓。”
30 艳丽是虚假的,美容是虚浮的;
唯有敬畏耶和华的妇女,必得称赞。
31 愿她享受自己手所作的成果;
愿她的工作在城门口使她受称赞。
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.