Provérbios 31
Kong Lemuel af Massas Ord; som hans Moder tugtede ham med.
Hvad, Lemuel, min Søn, min førstefødte, hvad skal jeg sige dig, hvad, mit Moderlivs Søn, hvad, mine Løfters Søn?
Giv ikke din Kraft til Kvinder, din Kærlighed til dem, der ødelægger Konger.
Det klæder ej Konger, Lemuel, det klæder ej Konger at drikke Vin eller Fyrster at kræve stærke Drikke,
at de ikke skal drikke og glemme Vedtægt og bøje Retten for alle arme.
Giv den segnende stærke Drikke, og giv den mismodige Vin;
lad ham drikke og glemme sin Fattigdom, ej mer ihukomme sin Møje.
Luk Munden op for den stumme, for alle lidendes Sag;
luk Munden op og døm retfærdigt, skaf den arme og fattige Ret!
Hvo finder en duelig Hustru? Hendes Værd står langt over Perlers.
Hendes Husbonds Hjerte stoler på hende, på Vinding skorter det ikke.
Hun gør ham godt og intet ondt alle sine Levedage.
Hun sørger for Uld og Hør, hun bruger sine Hænder med Lyst.
Hun er som en Købmands Skibe, sin Føde henter hun langvejs fra.
Endnu før Dag står hun op og giver Huset Mad, sine Piger deres tilmålte Del.
Hun tænker på en Mark og får den, hun planter en Vingård, for hvad hun har tjent.
Hun bælter sin Hofte med Kraft, lægger Styrke i sine Arme.
Hun skønner, hendes Husholdning lykkes, hendes Lampe går ikke ud om Natten.
Hun rækker sine Hænder mod Rokken, Fingrene tager om Tenen.
Hun rækker sin Hånd til den arme, rækker Armene ud til den fattige.
Af Sne har hun intet at frygte for sit Hus, thi hele hendes Hus er klædt i Skarlagen.
Tæpper laver hun sig, hun er klædt i Byssus og Purpur.
Hendes Husbond er kendt i Portene, når han sidder blandt Landets Ældste.
Hun væver Linned til Salg og sælger Bælter til Kræmmeren.
Klædt i Styrke og Hæder går hun Morgendagen i Møde med Smil.
Hun åbner Munden med Visdom, med mild Vejledning på Tungen.
Hun våger over Husets Gænge og spiser ej Ladheds Brød.
Hendes Sønner står frem og giver hende Pris, hendes Husbond synger hendes Lov:
Mange duelige Kvinder findes, men du står over dem alle!
Ynde er Svig og Skønhed Skin; en Kvinde, som frygter HERREN, skal roses.
Lad hende få sine Hænders Frugt, hendes Gerninger synger hendes Lov i Portene.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
{It is} not for kings, O Lemuel, {it is} not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. {prevert: Heb. alter} {of any...: Heb. of all the sons of affliction}
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. {of...: Heb. bitter of soul}
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. {such...: Heb. the sons of destruction}
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price {is} far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. {buyeth: Heb. taketh}
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise {is} good: her candle goeth not out by night. {She...: Heb. She tasteth}
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. {She...: Heb. She spreadeth}
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household {are} clothed with scarlet. {scarlet: or, double garments}
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing {is} silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth {it}; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour {are} her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue {is} the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband {also}, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. {have...: or, have gotten riches}
Favour {is} deceitful, and beauty {is} vain: {but} a woman {that} feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.