Advice to a King
1 These are the solemn words which King Lemuel's mother said to him:
2 “You are my own dear son, the answer to my prayers. What shall I tell you? 3 Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings. 4 Listen, Lemuel. Kings should not drink wine or have a craving for alcohol. 5 When they drink, they forget the laws and ignore the rights of people in need. 6 Alcohol is for people who are dying, for those who are in misery. 7 Let them drink and forget their poverty and unhappiness.
8 “Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. 9 Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and needy.”
The Capable Wife
10 How hard it is to find a capable wife! She is worth far more than jewels!
11 Her husband puts his confidence in her, and he will never be poor.
12 As long as she lives, she does him good and never harm.
13 She keeps herself busy making wool and linen cloth.
14 She brings home food from out-of-the-way places, as merchant ships do.
15 She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and to tell her servant women what to do.
16 She looks at land and buys it, and with money she has earned she plants a vineyard.
17 She is a hard worker, strong and industrious.
18 She knows the value of everything she makes, and works late into the night.
19 She spins her own thread and weaves her own cloth.
20 She is generous to the poor and needy.
21 She doesn't worry when it snows, because her family has warm clothing.
22 She makes bedspreads and wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23 Her husband is well known, one of the leading citizens.
24 She makes clothes and belts, and sells them to merchants.
25 She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future.
26 She speaks with a gentle wisdom.
27 She is always busy and looks after her family's needs.
28 Her children show their appreciation, and her husband praises her.
29 He says, “Many women are good wives, but you are the best of them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty disappears, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
31 Give her credit for all she does. She deserves the respect of everyone.
Ķēniņa Lemuēla mātes pamācība
1 Ķēniņa Lemuēla vārdi. Vēstījums, ko pamācībai tam devusi viņa māte.
2 Ko, mans dēls, nu ko, mana klēpja dēls,
nu ko, manu apsolījumu dēls?!
3 Neatdod sievietēm savu spēku,
nenododies valdnieku deldētājām!
4 Nenākas ķēniņiem, Lemuēl,
nenākas ķēniņiem dzert vīnu,
nedz valdniekiem kārot brāgu –
5 tad tie dzerdami aizmirstu likumu
un ik sūrdienim darītu pāri!
6 Dodiet brāgu pazudušajam
un vīnu tiem, kam rūgtums sirdī,
7 lai dzer un aizmirst savu postu
un neatceras vairs savas mokas!
8 Ver savu muti mēmo vietā,
aizstāvi visus, kam spēki zūd,
9 ver savu muti, spried taisni,
aizstāvi tiesā nabagu un sūrdieni!
Krietnas sievas tikumu slavinājums
10 Krietna sieva – kā pie tās tikt?
Par pērlēm tai daudz augstāka cena!
11 Uzticas tai vīra sirds –
un guvums tam neiet secen.
12 Tā dara viņam labu, ļaunu ne –
visu savu mūžu!
13 Tā gādā par vilnu un liniem,
tā padara darbus vieglu roku,
14 tā ir kā tirgoņa kuģis –
no tālumiem iztiku pārved,
15 tā ceļas, kad vēl nakts,
baro saimi, izrīko kalpones,
16 tā nolūko lauku un nopērk to,
par pašas peļņu vīnadārzu stāda,
17 tā sajož cieši savus gurnus,
visu spēku tā saņem rokās,
18 tā lūko, ka peļņa nāk,
tās gaismeklis nedziest naktī,
19 rokas tai sniedzas pie sprēslenīcas,
tās pirksti tver vārpstu,
20 nabagam tā pastiepj devīgu plaukstu,
sūrdienim tā sniedz pretim rokas,
21 tai bail nav dēļ saimes, kad uznāk sniegs,
jo saime tai saģērbta divām kārtām,
22 pati tā segas auž,
linā un purpurā tērpjas,
23 tās vīru godā pilsētas vārtos,
kad šis sēžas starp zemes vecajiem,
24 tā darina smalkus kreklus un pārdod,
jostas tā tirgoņiem nodod,
25 spēkā un godībā tā tērpta,
ar smaidu tā sagaida nākamās dienas,
26 ar gudrību tā atdara muti,
sirsnīgi vārdi tai uz mēles,
27 tā uzmana, kā saimei klājas,
laiskuma maizi tā neēd!
28 Tās dēli pieceļas un svētī viņu,
tās vīrs viņu slavē:
29 daudz meitu, kas krietnas,
bet tu pārspēj visas!
30 Jaukums – tik māņi un skaistums – nieki,
sieva jāslavē par viņas dievbijību.
31 Atalgojiet to par viņas veikumu –
viņas darbi lai viņu slavē pilsētas vārtos!
