| 1. | uh[hthfpa NyKNtYf;fLj;j trdq;fs;@ mtd; jha; mtDf;Fg; Nghjpj;j cgNjrkhtJ: |
| | THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him: |
| 2. | vd; kfNd> vd; fh;g;gj;jpd; FkhuNd> vd; nghUj;jidfspd; Gj;jpuNd> |
| | What, my son? What, son of my womb? What [shall I advise you], son of my vows and dedication to God? |
| 3. | ];jphPfSf;F cd; ngyidAk;; uh[hf;fisf; nfLf;Fk; fhhpaq;fSf;F cd; topfisAk; nfhlhNj. |
| | Give not your strength to [loose] women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings. |
| 4. | jpuhl;rurk; Fbg;gJ uh[hf;fSf;Fj; jFjpay;y@ NyKNtNy> mJ uh[hf;fSf;Fj; jFjpay;y@ kJghdk; gpuGf;fSf;Fj; jFjpay;y. |
| | It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, |
| 5. | kJghdk;gz;zpdhy; mth;fs; epahag;gpukhzj;ij kwe;J> rpWikg;gLfpwth;fSila epahaj;ijAk; Gul;Lthh;fs;. |
| | Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted. |
| 6. | kbe;JNghfpwtDf;F kJghdj;ijAk;> kdq;fre;jth;fSf;Fj; jpuhl;rurj;ijAk; nfhLq;fs;@ |
| | Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart. |
| 7. | mtd; Fbj;Jj; jd; Fiwit kwe;J> jd; tUj;jj;ij mg;Gwk; epidahjpUf;fl;Lk;. |
| | Let him drink and forget his poverty and [seriously] remember his want and misery no more. |
| 8. | CikaDf;fhfTk; jpf;fw;wth;fnsy;yhUila epahaj;Jf;fhfTk; cd; thiaj; jpw. |
| | Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless; |
| 9. | cd; thiaj; jpwe;J> ePjpaha; epahae;jPh;;j;J> rpWikAk; vspikAkhdtDf;F epahaQ;nra;. |
| | Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy. |
| 10. | Fzrhypahd ];jphPiaf; fz;Lgpbg;gtd; ahh;? mtSila tpiy Kj;Jf;fisg;ghh;f;fpYk; cah;e;jJ. |
| | A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. |
| 11. | mts; GU\Dila ,Ujak; mtis ek;Gk;@ mtd; rk;gj;Jf; FiwahJ. |
| | The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil. |
| 12. | mts; capNuhbf;fpw ehnsy;yhk; mtDf;Fj; jPikiaay;y> ed;ikiaNa nra;fpwhs;. |
| | She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her. |
| 13. | Ml;LkapiuAk; rziyAk; Njb> jd; iffspdhy; cw;rhfj;NjhNl Ntiynra;fpwhs;. |
| | She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it]. |
| 14. | mts; tpahghuf; fg;gy;fisg;NghypUf;fpwhs;@ J}uj;jpypUe;J jd; Mfhuj;ijf; nfhz;LtUfpwhs;. |
| | She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country]. |
| 15. | ,Ul;NlhNl vOe;J jd; tPl;lhUf;F Mfhuq;nfhLj;J> jd; Ntiyf;fhhpfSf;Fg; gbasf;fpwhs;. |
| | She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. |
| 16. | xU taiy tprhhpj;J mij thq;Ffpwhs;@ jd; iffspd; rk;ghj;jpaj;jpdhy; jpuhl;rj;Njhl;lj;ij ehl;Lfpwhs;. |
| | She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.] |
| 17. | jd;idg; ngyj;jhy; ,ilf;fl;bf;nfhz;L> jd; iffisg; gyg;gLj;Jfpwhs;. |
| | She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm. |
| 18. | jd; tpahghuk; gpuNah[dKs;snjd;W mwpe;jpUf;fpwhs;@ ,utpNy mts; tpsf;F mizahjpUf;Fk;. |
| | She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust]. |
| 19. | jd; iffis ,uhl;bdj;jpy; itf;fpwhs;@ mts; tpuy;fs; fjpiug; gpbf;Fk;. |
| | She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. |
| 20. | rpWikahdth;fSf;Fj; jd; ifiaj; jpwe;J> ViofSf;Fj; jd; fuq;fis ePl;Lfpwhs;. |
| | She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. |
| 21. | jd; tPl;;lhh; midtUf;Fk; ,ul;ilg;Giu cLg;gpUf;fpwjhy;> jd; tPl;lhhpdpkpj;jk; FspUf;Fg; gag;glhs;. |
| | She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. |
| 22. | ,uj;jpdf; fk;gsq;fisj; jdf;F cz;Lgz;Zfpwhs;@ nky;ypa GlitAk; ,uj;jhk;guKk; mts; cLg;G. |
| | She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made]. |
| 23. | jd; GU\d; Njrj;J %g;gh;fNshNl epaha];jyq;fspy; cl;fhh;e;jpUf;ifapy; Ngh;ngw;wtdhapUf;fpwhd;. |
| | Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. |
| 24. | nky;ypa Glitfis cz;Lgz;zp tpw;fpwhs;@ fr;irfis th;j;jfhplj;jpy; xg;Gtpf;fpwhs;. |
| | She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service]. |
| 25. | mts; cil gyKk; myq;fhuKkhapUf;fpwJ@ tUq;fhyj;ijg;gw;wpAk; kfpOfpwhs;. |
| | Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]! |
| 26. | jd; thia Qhdk; tpsq;fj; jpwf;fpwhs;;@ jiaAs;s Nghjfk; mts; ehtpd;Nky; ,Uf;fpwJ. |
| | She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]. |
| 27. | mts; Nrhk;gypd; mg;gj;ijg; Grpahky;> jd; tPl;Lf;fhhpak; vg;gb elf;fpwJ vd;W fz;Nzhf;fkhapUf;fpwhs;. |
| | She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. |
| 28. | mts; gps;isfs; vOk;gp> mtisg; ghf;fpatjp vd;fpwhh;fs;@ mts; GU\Dk; mtisg;ghh;j;J: |
| | Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], |
| 29. | mNefk; ngz;fs; FzrhypfshapUe;jJz;L@ ePNah mth;fs; vy;yhUf;Fk; Nkw;gl;lts; vd;W mtisg; GfOfpwhd;. |
| | Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all. |
| 30. | nrse;jhpak; tQ;ridAs;sJ> moFk; tPz;> fh;j;jUf;Fg; gag;gLfpw ];jph;PNa Gfog;gLths;. |
| | Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! |
| 31. | mts; iffspd; gyid mtSf;Ff; nfhLq;fs;@ mtSila nra;iffs; thry;fspy; mtisg; Gfof;fltJ. |
| | Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]! |