31:1 ⧉ ⤴︎ דִּ֭בְרֵי לְמוּאֵ֣ל מֶ֑לֶךְ מַ֝שָּׂ֗א אֲֽשֶׁר ־יִסְּרַ֥תּוּ אִמּֽוֹ ׃
οἱ ἐμοὶ λόγοι εἴρηνται ὑπὸ θεοῦ βασιλέως χρηματισμός ὃν ἐπαίδευσεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ
Verba Lamuelis regis . Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua .
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
31:2 ⧉ ⤴︎ מַה ־בְּ֭רִי וּמַֽה ־בַּר ־בִּטְנִ֑י וּ֝מֶ֗ה בַּר ־נְדָרָֽי ׃
τί τέκνον τηρήσεις τί ῥήσεις θεοῦ πρωτογενές σοὶ λέγω υἱέ τί τέκνον ἐμῆς κοιλίας τί τέκνον ἐμῶν εὐχῶν
Quid , dilecte mi ? quid , dilecte uteri mei ? quid , dilecte votorum meorum ?
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
31:3 ⧉ ⤴︎ אַל ־תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין ׃
μὴ δῷς γυναιξὶ σὸν πλοῦτον καὶ τὸν σὸν νοῦν καὶ βίον εἰς ὑστεροβουλίαν
Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam , et divitias tuas ad delendos reges .
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
31:4 ⧉ ⤴︎ אַ֤ל לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים ׀ לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל אַ֣ל לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים שְׁתוֹ ־יָ֑יִן וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים (או ) [אֵ֣י ] שֵׁכָֽר ׃
μετὰ βουλῆς πάντα ποίει μετὰ βουλῆς οἰνοπότει οἱ δυνάσται θυμώδεις εἰσίν οἶνον δὲ μὴ πινέτωσαν
Noli regibus , o Lamuel , noli regibus dare vinum , quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas ;
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
31:5 ⧉ ⤴︎ פֶּן ־יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח מְחֻקָּ֑ק וִ֝ישַׁנֶּ֗ה דִּ֣ין כׇּל ־בְּנֵי ־עֹֽנִי ׃
ἵνα μὴ πιόντες ἐπιλάθωνται τῆς σοφίας καὶ ὀρθὰ κρῖναι οὐ μὴ δύνωνται τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς
et ne forte bibant , et obliviscantur judiciorum , et mutent causam filiorum pauperis .
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
31:6 ⧉ ⤴︎ תְּנוּ ־שֵׁכָ֥ר לְאוֹבֵ֑ד וְ֝יַ֗יִן לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ ׃
δίδοτε μέθην τοῖς ἐν λύπαις καὶ οἶνον πίνειν τοῖς ἐν ὀδύναις
Date siceram moerentibus , et vinum his qui amaro sunt animo .
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
31:7 ⧉ ⤴︎ יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח רִישׁ֑וֹ וַ֝עֲמָל֗וֹ לֹ֣א יִזְכׇּר ־עֽוֹד ׃ {פ}
ἵνα ἐπιλάθωνται τῆς πενίας καὶ τῶν πόνων μὴ μνησθῶσιν ἔτι
Bibant , et obliviscantur egestatis suae , et doloris sui non recordentur amplius .
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
31:8 ⧉ ⤴︎ פְּתַח ־פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל ־דִּ֝֗ין כׇּל ־בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף ׃
ἄνοιγε σὸν στόμα λόγῳ θεοῦ καὶ κρῖνε πάντας ὑγιῶς
Aperi os tuum muto , et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt .
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
31:9 ⧉ ⤴︎ פְּתַח ־פִּ֥יךָ שְׁפׇט ־צֶ֑דֶק וְ֝דִ֗ין עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְיֽוֹן ׃ {פ}
ἄνοιγε σὸν στόμα καὶ κρῖνε δικαίως διάκρινε δὲ πένητα καὶ ἀσθενῆ
Aperi os tuum , decerne quod justum est , et judica inopem et pauperem .
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
31:10 ⧉ ⤴︎ אֵֽשֶׁת ־חַ֭יִל מִ֣י יִמְצָ֑א וְרָחֹ֖ק מִפְּנִינִ֣ים מִכְרָֽהּ ׃
γυναῖκα ἀνδρείαν τίς εὑρήσει τιμιωτέρα δέ ἐστιν λίθων πολυτελῶν ἡ τοιαύτη
Mulierem fortem quis inveniet ? procul et de ultimis finibus pretium ejus .
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
31:11 ⧉ ⤴︎ בָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר ׃
θαρσεῖ ἐπ’ αὐτῇ ἡ καρδία τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς ἡ τοιαύτη καλῶν σκύλων οὐκ ἀπορήσει
Confidit in ea cor viri sui , et spoliis non indigebit .
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
31:12 ⧉ ⤴︎ גְּמָלַ֣תְהוּ ט֣וֹב וְלֹא ־רָ֑ע כֹּ֝֗ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּֽיהָ ׃
ἐνεργεῖ γὰρ τῷ ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθὰ πάντα τὸν βίον
Reddet ei bonum , et non malum , omnibus diebus vitae suae .
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
31:13 ⧉ ⤴︎ דָּ֭רְשָׁה צֶ֣מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂ בְּחֵ֣פֶץ כַּפֶּֽיהָ ׃
μηρυομένη ἔρια καὶ λίνον ἐποίησεν εὔχρηστον ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῆς
Quaesivit lanam et linum , et operata est consilia manuum suarum .
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
31:14 ⧉ ⤴︎ הָ֭יְתָה כׇּאֳנִיּ֣וֹת סוֹחֵ֑ר מִ֝מֶּרְחָ֗ק תָּבִ֥יא לַחְמָֽהּ ׃
ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ ναῦς ἐμπορευομένη μακρόθεν συνάγει δὲ αὕτη τὸν βίον
Facta est quasi navis institoris , de longe portans panem suum .
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
31:15 ⧉ ⤴︎ וַתָּ֤קׇם ׀ בְּע֬וֹד לַ֗יְלָה וַתִּתֵּ֣ן טֶ֣רֶף לְבֵיתָ֑הּ וְ֝חֹ֗ק לְנַעֲרֹתֶֽיהָ ׃
καὶ ἀνίσταται ἐκ νυκτῶν καὶ ἔδωκεν βρώματα τῷ οἴκῳ καὶ ἔργα ταῖς θεραπαίναις
Et de nocte surrexit , deditque praedam domesticis suis , et cibaria ancillis suis .
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
31:16 ⧉ ⤴︎ זָמְמָ֣ה שָׂ֭דֶה וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ מִפְּרִ֥י כַ֝פֶּ֗יהָ (נטע ) [נָ֣טְעָה ] כָּֽרֶם ׃
θεωρήσασα γεώργιον ἐπρίατο ἀπὸ δὲ καρπῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς κατεφύτευσεν κτῆμα
Consideravit agrum , et emit eum ; de fructu manuum suarum plantavit vineam .
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
31:17 ⧉ ⤴︎ חָֽגְרָ֣ה בְע֣וֹז מׇתְנֶ֑יהָ וַ֝תְּאַמֵּ֗ץ זְרוֹעֹתֶֽיהָ ׃
ἀναζωσαμένη ἰσχυρῶς τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτῆς ἤρεισεν τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτῆς εἰς ἔργον
Accinxit fortitudine lumbos suos , et roboravit brachium suum .
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
31:18 ⧉ ⤴︎ טָ֭עֲמָה כִּי ־ט֣וֹב סַחְרָ֑הּ לֹא ־יִכְבֶּ֖ה (בליל ) [בַלַּ֣יְלָה ] נֵרָֽהּ ׃
ἐγεύσατο ὅτι καλόν ἐστιν τὸ ἐργάζεσθαι καὶ οὐκ ἀποσβέννυται ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ὁ λύχνος αὐτῆς
Gustavit , et vidit quia bona est negotiatio ejus ; non extinguetur in nocte lucerna ejus .
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
31:19 ⧉ ⤴︎ יָ֭דֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָ֣ה בַכִּישׁ֑וֹר וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָ תָּ֣מְכוּ פָֽלֶךְ ׃
τοὺς πήχεις αὐτῆς ἐκτείνει ἐπὶ τὰ συμφέροντα τὰς δὲ χεῖρας αὐτῆς ἐρείδει εἰς ἄτρακτον
Manum suam misit ad fortia , et digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum .
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
31:20 ⧉ ⤴︎ כַּ֭פָּהּ פָּֽרְשָׂ֣ה לֶעָנִ֑י וְ֝יָדֶ֗יהָ שִׁלְּחָ֥ה לָאֶבְיֽוֹן ׃
χεῖρας δὲ αὐτῆς διήνοιξεν πένητι καρπὸν δὲ ἐξέτεινεν πτωχῷ
Manum suam aperuit inopi , et palmas suas extendit ad pauperem .
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
31:21 ⧉ ⤴︎ לֹא ־תִירָ֣א לְבֵיתָ֣הּ מִשָּׁ֑לֶג כִּ֥י כׇל ־בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּ לָבֻ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים ׃
οὐ φροντίζει τῶν ἐν οἴκῳ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ὅταν που χρονίζῃ πάντες γὰρ οἱ παρ’ αὐτῆς ἐνδιδύσκονται
Non timebit domui suae a frigoribus nivis ; omnes enim domestici ejus vestiti sunt duplicibus .
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
31:22 ⧉ ⤴︎ מַרְבַדִּ֥ים עָֽשְׂתָה ־לָּ֑הּ שֵׁ֖שׁ וְאַרְגָּמָ֣ן לְבוּשָֽׁהּ ׃
δισσὰς χλαίνας ἐποίησεν τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς ἐκ δὲ βύσσου καὶ πορφύρας ἑαυτῇ ἐνδύματα
Stragulatam vestem fecit sibi ; byssus et purpura indumentum ejus .
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
31:23 ⧉ ⤴︎ נוֹדָ֣ע בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים בַּעְלָ֑הּ בְּ֝שִׁבְתּ֗וֹ עִם ־זִקְנֵי ־אָֽרֶץ ׃
περίβλεπτος δὲ γίνεται ἐν πύλαις ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ἡνίκα ἂν καθίσῃ ἐν συνεδρίῳ μετὰ τῶν γερόντων κατοίκων τῆς γῆς
Nobilis in portis vir ejus , quando sederit cum senatoribus terrae .
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
31:24 ⧉ ⤴︎ סָדִ֣ין עָ֭שְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּ֑ר וַ֝חֲג֗וֹר נָתְנָ֥ה לַֽכְּנַעֲנִֽי ׃
σινδόνας ἐποίησεν καὶ ἀπέδοτο περιζώματα δὲ τοῖς Χαναναίοις
Sindonem fecit , et vendidit , et cingulum tradidit Chananaeo .
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
31:25 ⧉ ⤴︎ עֹז ־וְהָדָ֥ר לְבוּשָׁ֑הּ וַ֝תִּשְׂחַ֗ק לְי֣וֹם אַחֲרֽוֹן ׃
στόμα αὐτῆς διήνοιξεν προσεχόντως καὶ ἐννόμως καὶ τάξιν ἐστείλατο τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῆς
Fortitudo et decor indumentum ejus , et ridebit in die novissimo .
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
31:26 ⧉ ⤴︎ פִּ֭יהָ פָּתְחָ֣ה בְחׇכְמָ֑ה וְת֥וֹרַת חֶ֝֗סֶד עַל ־לְשׁוֹנָֽהּ ׃
ἰσχὺν καὶ εὐπρέπειαν ἐνεδύσατο καὶ εὐφράνθη ἐν ἡμέραις ἐσχάταις
Os suum aperuit sapientiae , et lex clementiae in lingua ejus .
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
31:27 ⧉ ⤴︎ צ֭וֹפִיָּה (הילכות ) [הֲלִיכ֣וֹת ] בֵּיתָ֑הּ וְלֶ֥חֶם עַ֝צְל֗וּת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵֽל ׃
στεγναὶ διατριβαὶ οἴκων αὐτῆς σῖτα δὲ ὀκνηρὰ οὐκ ἔφαγεν
Consideravit semitas domus suae , et panem otiosa non comedit .
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
31:28 ⧉ ⤴︎ קָ֣מוּ בָ֭נֶיהָ וַֽיְאַשְּׁר֑וּהָ בַּ֝עְלָ֗הּ וַֽיְהַלְלָֽהּ ׃
τὸ στόμα δὲ ἀνοίγει σοφῶς καὶ νομοθέσμως ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη αὐτῆς ἀνέστησεν τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπλούτησαν καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ᾔνεσεν αὐτήν
Surrexerunt filii ejus , et beatissimam praedicaverunt ; vir ejus , et laudavit eam .
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
31:29 ⧉ ⤴︎ רַבּ֣וֹת בָּ֭נוֹת עָ֣שׂוּ חָ֑יִל וְ֝אַ֗תְּ עָלִ֥ית עַל ־כֻּלָּֽנָה ׃
πολλαὶ θυγατέρες ἐκτήσαντο πλοῦτον πολλαὶ ἐποίησαν δυνατά σὺ δὲ ὑπέρκεισαι καὶ ὑπερῆρας πάσας
Multae filiae congregaverunt divitias ; tu supergressa es universas .
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
31:30 ⧉ ⤴︎ שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭חֵן וְהֶ֣בֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי אִשָּׁ֥ה יִרְאַת ־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה הִ֣יא תִתְהַלָּֽל ׃
ψευδεῖς ἀρέσκειαι καὶ μάταιον κάλλος γυναικός γυνὴ γὰρ συνετὴ εὐλογεῖται φόβον δὲ κυρίου αὕτη αἰνείτω
Fallax gratia , et vana est pulchritudo : mulier timens Dominum , ipsa laudabitur .
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31:31 ⧉ ⤴︎ תְּנוּ ־לָ֭הּ מִפְּרִ֣י יָדֶ֑יהָ וִיהַלְל֖וּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִ֣ים מַֽעֲשֶֽׂיהָ ׃
δότε αὐτῇ ἀπὸ καρπῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς καὶ αἰνείσθω ἐν πύλαις ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς
Date ei de fructu manuum suarum , et laudent eam in portis opera ejus .
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!