1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
1賢母訓子當秉公行義利慕伊勒王的話，是 神的默示，是他母親教訓他的：
2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
2“我兒，我腹中生的兒啊！我許願所得的兒啊，我要對你說甚麼呢？
3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
3不要把你的精力給婦女，也不要有敗壞君王的行為。
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
4利慕伊勒啊！君王不可喝酒；君王千萬不可喝酒；掌權的不可貪飲烈酒。
5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
5恐怕喝了酒，就忘記律例，把困苦人的一切案件都顛倒了。
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
6要把烈酒給將要滅亡的人喝；把酒給心裡愁苦的人喝；
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
7讓他喝了，就忘記自己的貧窮，也不再記念自己的煩惱。
8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
8你要為不能自辯的人開口說話，為所有貧苦的人伸冤。
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
9你要開口說話，秉公審判，為困苦和窮乏的人伸冤。”
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
10敬畏耶和華的婦女有才德的婦人，誰能得著呢？她的價值遠勝過紅寶石。
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
11她丈夫心裡倚靠她，就不會缺少收入。
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
12她一生的年日，只帶給丈夫益處，沒有害處。
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
13她搜求羊毛和細麻，樂意親手作工。
14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
14她好像一隊商船，從遠方運來食物。
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
15天還未亮，她就起來，把食物分給家人，把當作的工分派眾婢女。
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
16她選擇了一塊田，就把它買下來，用自己雙手賺得的收入栽種葡萄園。
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
17她以能力束腰，使自己的膀臂有力。
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
18她知道自己的經營獲利，她的燈終夜不滅。
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
19她伸手拿著捲線竿，手掌握著紡錘。
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
20她張手賙濟困苦人，伸手幫助窮乏人。
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
21她不因下雪為自己的家人擔心，因為她全家都穿著溫暖的朱紅色衣服。
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
22她為自己做床毯，她的衣服是細麻和紫色布料做的。
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
23她丈夫與本地的長老在城門口同坐，是眾人都認識的。
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
24她做細麻布衣服出售，又供應腰帶給商人。
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
25她以能力和威儀為衣服，想到日後的幸福就歡笑。
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
26她開口就說出智慧的話；她的舌頭上充滿慈愛的訓誨。
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
27她監管一切家務，從不白吃閒飯。
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
28她的兒女都起來稱她是有福的，她的丈夫也稱讚她，說：
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
29“有才德的女子很多，但你比她們更超卓。”
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
30艷麗是虛假的，美容是虛浮的；唯有敬畏耶和華的婦女，必得稱讚。
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
31願她享受自己手所作的成果；願她的工作在城門口使她受稱讚。