1 كلام لموئيل ملك مسّا. علّمته اياه امه.2 ماذا يا ابني ثم ماذا يا ابن رحمي ثم ماذا يا ابن نذوري ـــ3 لا تعطي حيلك للنساء ولا طرقك لمهلكات الملوك.4 ليس للملوك يا لموئيل ليس للملوك ان يشربوا خمرا ولا للعظماء المسكر.5 لئلا يشربوا وينسوا المفروض ويغيّروا حجة كل بني المذلة.6 اعطوا مسكرا لهالك وخمرا لمرّي النفس.7 يشرب وينسى فقره ولا يذكر تعبه بعد8 افتح فمك لاجل الاخرس في دعوى كل يتيم.9 افتح فمك. اقض بالعدل وحام عن الفقير والمسكين10 امرأة فاضلة من يجدها لان ثمنها يفوق اللآلئ.11 بها يثق قلب زوجها فلا يحتاج الى غنيمة.12 تصنع له خيرا لا شرا كل ايام حياتها.13 تطلب صوفا وكتانا وتشتغل بيدين راضيتين.14 هي كسفن التاجر. تجلب طعامها من بعيد.15 وتقوم اذ الليل بعد وتعطي اكلا لاهل بيتها وفريضة لفتياتها.16 تتأمل حقلا فتأخذه وبثمر يديها تغرس كرما.17 تنطّق حقويها بالقوة وتشدد ذراعيها.18 تشعر ان تجارتها جيدة. سراجها لا ينطفئ في الليل.19 تمد يديها الى المغزل وتمسك كفّاها بالفلكة.20 تبسط كفيها للفقير وتمد يديها الى المسكين.21 لا تخشى على بيتها من الثلج لان كل اهل بيتها لابسون حللا.22 تعمل لنفسها موشيات. لبسها بوص وارجوان.23 زوجها معروف في الابواب حين يجلس بين مشايخ الارض.24 تصنع قمصانا وتبيعها وتعرض مناطق على الكنعاني.25 العزّ والبهاء لباسها وتضحك على الزمن الآتي.26 تفتح فمها بالحكمة وفي لسانها سنّة المعروف.27 تراقب طرق اهل بيتها ولا تأكل خبز الكسل.28 يقوم اولادها ويطوّبونها. زوجها ايضا فيمدحها.29 بنات كثيرات عملن فضلا اما انت ففقت عليهنّ جميعا.30 الحسن غش والجمال باطل. اما المرأة المتقية الرب فهي تمدح.31 اعطوها من ثمر يديها ولتمدحها اعمالها في الابواب

1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?3 Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.6 Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavy hearts.7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.8 Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.11 The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.13 She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands.14 She is like the merchants'ships; she brings her food from afar.15 She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion to 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 strengthens her arms.18 She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night.19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.20 She stretches out her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.22 She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.24 She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles to the merchant.25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.26 She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.