章：1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
31:1 利慕伊勒王的言语，是他母亲教训他的真言。
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
31:2 我的儿阿，我腹中生的儿阿，我许愿得的儿阿，我当怎样教训你呢。
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
31:3 不要将你的精力给妇女，也不要有败坏君王的行为。
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
31:4 利慕伊勒阿，君王喝酒，君王喝酒不相宜。王子说，浓酒在那里也不相宜。
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
31:5 恐怕喝了就忘记律例，颠倒一切困苦人的是非。
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
31:6 可以把浓酒给将亡的人喝。把清酒给苦心的人喝。
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
31:7 让他们喝了，就忘记他的贫穷，不在记念他的苦楚。
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
31:8 你当为哑吧（或作不能自辨的）开口，为一切孤独的伸冤。
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
31:9 你当开口按公义判断，为困苦和穷乏的辨屈。
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
31:10 才德的妇人，谁能得着呢，他的价值胜过珍珠。
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
31:11 他丈夫心里倚靠他，必不缺少利益。
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
31:12 他一生使丈夫有益无损。
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
31:13 他寻梢羊绒和麻，甘心用手作工。
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
31:14 他好像商船从远方运粮来。
She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
31:15 未到黎明他就起来，把食物分给家中的人。将当作的工分派婢女。
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
31:16 他想得田地，就买来。用手所的之利，栽种葡萄园。
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
31:17 他以能力束腰，使膀臂有力。
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
31:18 他觉得所经营的有利，他的灯终夜不灭。
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
31:19 他手拿捻线竿。手把纺线车。
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
31:20 他张手周济困苦人，伸手帮补穷乏人。
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
31:21 他不因下雪为家里的人担心，因为全家都穿着朱红衣服。
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
31:22 他为自己制作绣花毯子，他的衣服，是细麻和紫色布作的。
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
31:23 他丈夫在城门口与本地的长老同坐，为众人所认识。
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
31:24 他作细麻衣裳出卖。又将腰带卖与商家。
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
31:25 能力和威仪，是他的衣服。他想到日后的景况就喜笑。
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
31:26 他开口就发智慧。他舌上有仁慈的法则。
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
31:27 他观察家务，并不吃闲饭。
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
31:28 他的儿女起来称他有福。他的丈夫也称赞他，
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
31:29 说，才德的女子很多，惟独你超过一切。
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
31:30 艳丽是虚假的。美容是虚浮的。惟敬畏耶和华的妇女，必得称赞。
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31:31 愿他享受操作所得的。愿他的工作，在城门口荣耀他。
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
箴言31参考
利慕伊勒是哪个国家的王？
31:1 我们对利慕伊勒所知不多，只知道他是一位君王，从他母亲得到智慧的教导。他的名字是“奉献给神”的意思。有些人认为，他和亚古珥都出于阿拉伯北部的玛撒国。
君王更不能喝酒，这对我们有甚么提醒？
31:4-7 将亡之人藉醉酒消除极度的痛苦是可以理解的。但是对一国之君来说，醉酒则不可饶恕。酒能使人头脑昏迷，以致作出不公平的判断与错误的抉择。君王需处理国家大事，用酒来灌醉自己会祸国殃民。
这位才德双全的妇人身上有哪些值得效法的品质？
31:10-31 箴言中有多处经文提及妇女，最后用对一位才德的妇人的描绘来结尾是极其恰当的。她有坚强的品格，高度的智慧，又多才多艺，且有丰富的同情怜悯之心。
有些人有一个错误观念，以为圣经中的理想妇人，都是藏身男人背后、百依百顺只管家务的人。事实并不是这样。箴言中的这位妇人既是超乎众人的贤妻良母，她又是一位制造商、进口商、经理、房产经纪、农夫、裁缝、室内装修者及商人，可以说是百艺精通的才女。不过她的长处和尊贵，并不是从她的奇妙成就而来，而是她敬畏神的结果。在现代社会中，人对于外貌极其注重，然而令我们惊讶的是，箴言中从来没有提到这位妇人的仪容，她的魅力是出于她的德行。
这一章所描述的这位贤德的妇人有惊人的能力。她的家庭有高尚的社会地位。然而实际上她可能不是一位妇人，而是集众多美德于一身的理想妇人的化身。不必仿效她所做的每一件事，因为你所处的环境与她并不相同。但不妨藉著她激励你追求理想。我们虽不能跟她完全一样，却可以学习她吃苦耐劳，品德正直，又足智多谋的优点。
31:19 捻线竿与纺线车是用手纺线的两种工具。
贯穿箴言的主线是甚么？你发现它了吗？
31:31 箴言以吩咐人敬畏耶和华开始（1:7），以描述一位成全这个命令的妇人作结束。她的特质其实也贯穿在整卷书中：勤奋工作，敬畏神，尊重配偶，有远见，鼓励他人，关心他人，眷顾穷人，善用金钱。这些特质与敬畏神相配合，就使人生有喜乐、有成就、有尊贵、有价值。箴言的教诲在我们的时代也非常适用。因为它告诉我们怎样成为智慧人，作有益的抉择去过合乎神心意的生活。