1
דִּבְרֵי לְמוּאֵל מֶלֶךְ מַשָּׂא אֲשֶׁר־יִסְּרַתּוּ אִמּוֹ
The words of king Lemuel; the burden wherewith his mother corrected him.
My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
2
מַה־בְּרִי וּמַה־בַּר־בִּטְנִי וּמֶה בַּר־נְדָרָי
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
Τί τέκνον τηρήσεις; τί; ῥήσεις Θεοῦ· πρωτογενὲς σοὶ λέγω υἱέ· τί τέκνον ἐμῆς κοιλίας; τί τέκνον ἐμῶν εὐχῶν;
What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: What? son of my womb? What? son of my vows?
What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? * son of my vows?
56
Μὴ δῷς γυναιξὶ σὸν πλοῦτον, καὶ τὸν σὸν νοῦν καὶ βίον εἰς ὑστεροβουλίαν·
Give not thy wealth to women, Nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: Drink wine with counsel.
3
אַל־תִּתֵּן לַנָּשִׁים חֵילֶךָ וּדְרָכֶיךָ לַמְחוֹת מְלָכִין
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
4
אַל לַמְלָכִים לְמוֹאֵל אַל לַמְלָכִים שְׁתוֹ־יָיִן וּלְרוֹזְנִים או אֵי שֵׁכָר
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine: nor for princes to say: 'Where is strong drink?'
μετὰ βουλῆς πάντα ποίει, μετὰ βουλῆς οἰνοπότει. Οἱ δυνάσται θυμώδεις εἰσὶν, οἶνον δὲ μὴ πινέτωσαν,
Princes are prone to anger: Let them then not drink wine:
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
58
ἵνα μὴ πιόντες ἐπιλάθωνται τῆς σοφίας, καὶ ὀρθὰ κρῖναι οὐ μὴ δύνωνται τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς.
Lest they drink, and forget wisdom, And be not able to judge the poor rightly.
5
פֶּן־יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח מְחֻקָּק וִישַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֹנִי
Lest they drink, and forget that which is decreed, and pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
6
תְּנוּ־שֵׁכָר לְאוֹבֵד וְיַיִן לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter in soul;
Δίδοτε μέθην τοῖς ἐν λύπαις, καὶ οἶνον πίνειν τοῖς ἐν ὀδύναις,
Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, And the wine to drink to those in pain:
Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
7
יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח רִישׁוֹ וַעֲמָלוֹ לֹא יִזְכָּר־עוֹד
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
ἵνα ἐπιλάθωνται τῆς πενίας, καὶ τῶν πόνων μὴ μνησθῶσιν ἔτι.
That they may forget their poverty, And may not remember their troubles anymore.
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
61
Ἄνοιγε σὸν στόμα λόγῳ Θεοῦ, καὶ κρίνε πάντας ὑγιῶς.
Open thy mouth with the word of God, And judge all fairly.
8
פְּתַח־פִּיךָ לְאִלֵּם אֶל־דִּין כָּל־בְּנֵי חֲלוֹף
Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
9
פְּתַח־פִּיךָ שְׁפָט־צֶדֶק וְדִין עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Ἄνοιγε σὸν στόμα καὶ κρίνε δικαίως, διάκρινε δὲ πένητα καὶ ἀσθενῆ.
Open thy mouth and judge justly, And plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
10
אֵשֶׁת־חַיִל מִי יִמְצָא וְרָחֹק מִפְּנִינִים מִכְרָהּ
A woman of valour who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
Γυναῖκα ἀνδρείαν τίς εὑρήσει; τιμιωτέρα δέ ἐστι λίθων πολυτελῶν ἡ τοιαύτη.
Who shall find a virtuous woman? For such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
11
בָּטַח בָּהּ לֵב בַּעְלָהּ וְשָׁלָל לֹא יֶחְסָר
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he hath no lack of gain.
Θαρσεῖ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ ἡ καρδία τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς· ἡ τοιαύτη καλῶν σκύλων οὐκ ἀπορήσει.
The heart of her husband trusts in her: Such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
12
גְּמָלַתְהוּ טוֹב וְלֹא־רָע כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיה
She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Ἐνεργεῖ γὰρ τῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰς ἀγαθὰ πάντα τὸν βίον.
For she employs all her living for her husband’s good.
13
דָּרְשָׁה צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים וַתַּעַשׂ בְּחֵפֶץ כַּפֶּיהָ
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Μηρυομένη ἔρια καὶ λινὸν, ἐποίησεν εὔχρηστον ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῆς.
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
14
הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר מִמֶּרְחָק תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ
She is like the merchant-ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ ναῦς ἐμπορευομένη μακρόθεν, συνάγει δὲ αὕτη τὸν βίον.
She is like a ship trading from a distance: So she procures her livelihood.
15
וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְחֹק לְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Καὶ ἀνίσταται ἐκ νυκτῶν, καὶ ἔδωκε βρώματα τῷ οἴκῳ, καὶ ἔργα ταῖς θεραπαίναις.
And she rises by night, And gives food to her household, And [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
16
זָמְמָה שָׂדֶה וַתִּקָּחֵהוּ מִפְּרִי כַפֶּיהָ נטע נָטְעָה כָּרֶם
She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Θεωρήσασα γεώργιον ἐπρίατο, ἀπὸ δὲ καρπῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς κατεφύτευσεν κτῆμα.
She views a farm, and buys it: And with the fruit of her hands she plants a possession.
17
חָגְרָה בְעוֹז מָתְנֶיהָ וַתְּאַמֵּץ זְרֹעוֹתֶיהָ
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
Ἀναζωσαμένη ἰσχυρῶς τὴν ὀσφῦν αὐτῆς ἤρεισε τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτῆς εἰς ἔργον.
She strongly girds her loins, And strengthens her arms for work.
18
טָעֲמָה כִּי־טוֹב סַחְרָהּ לֹא־יִכְבֶּה בליל בַלַּיְלָה נֵרָהּ
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
Καὶ ἐγεύσατο ὅτι καλόν ἐστι τὸ ἐργάζεσθαι, καὶ οὐκ ἀποσβέννυται ὁ λύχνος αὐτῆς ὅλην τὴν νύκτα.
And she finds by experience that working is good; And her candle goes not out all night.
19
יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישׁוֹר וְכַפֶּיהָ תָּמְכוּ פָלֶךְ
She layeth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
τοὺς πήχεις αὐτῆς ἐκτείνει ἐπὶ τὰ συμφέροντα, τὰς δὲ χεῖρας αὐτῆς ἐρείδει εἰς ἄτρακτον.
She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], And applies her hands to the spindle.
20
כַּפָּהּ פָּרְשָׂה לֶעָנִי וְיָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה לָאֶבְיוֹן
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Χεῖρας δὲ αὐτῆς διήνοιξε πένητι, καρπὸν δὲ ἐξέτεινεν πτωχῷ.
And she opens her hands to the needy, And reaches out fruit to the poor.
21
לֹא־תִירָא לְבֵיתָהּ מִשָּׁלֶג כִּי כָל־בֵּיתָהּ לָבֻשׁ שָׁנִים
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Οὐ φροντίζει τῶν ἐν οἴκῳ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ὅταν που χρονίζῃ, πάντες γὰρ οἱ παρʼ αὐτῆς ἐνδεδυμένοι εἰαί.
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: For all her household are clothed.
22
מַרְבַדִּים עָשְׂתָה־לָּהּ שֵׁשׁ וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁהּ
She maketh for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Δισσὰς χλαίνας ἐποίησε τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς, ἐκ δὲ βύσσου καὶ πορφύρας ἑαυτῇ ἐνδύματα.
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, And garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
23
נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ עִם־זִקְנֵי־אָרֶץ
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Περίβλεπτος δὲ γίνεται ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ἐν πύλαις, ἡνίκα ἂν καθίσῃ ἐν συνεδρίῳ μετὰ τῶν γερόντων κατοίκων τῆς γῆς.
And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, When he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
24
סָדִין עָשְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּר וַחֲגוֹר נָתְנָה לַכְּנַעֲנִי
She maketh linen garments and selleth them; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Σινδόνας ἐποίησε καὶ ἀπέδοτο περιζώματα τοῖς Χαναναίοις. στόμα αὐτῆς διήνοιξε προσεχόντως καὶ ἐννόμως, καὶ τάξιν ἐστείλατο τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῆς.
She makes fine linens, And sells girdles to the Canaanites: She opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, And controls her tongue.
25
עֹז־וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן
Strength and dignity are her clothing; and she laugheth at the time to come.
Ἰσχὺν καὶ εὐπρέπειαν ἐνεδύσατο, καὶ εὐφράνθη ἐν ἡμέραις ἐσχάταις.
She puts on strength and honor; And rejoices in the last days.
26
פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת־חֶסֶד עַל־לְשׁוֹנָהּ
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Τὸ στόμα δὲ ἀνοίγει σοφῶς καὶ νομοθέσμως. Ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη αὐτῆς
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
27
צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ וְלֶחֶם עַצְלוּת לֹא תֹאכֵל
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Στεγναὶ διατριβαὶ οἴκων αὐτῆς, σῖτα δὲ ὀκνηρὰ οὐκ ἔφαγεν.
The ways of her household are careful, And she eats not the bread of idleness.
28
קָמוּ בָנֶיהָ וַיְאַשְּׁרוּהָ בַּעְלָהּ וַיְהַלְלָהּ
Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her:
ἀνέστησε τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπλούτησαν, καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ᾔνεσεν αὐτήν.
And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, And her husband praises her.
29
רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל־כֻּלָּנָה
'Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou excellest them all.'
Πολλαὶ θυγατέρες ἐκτήσαντο πλοῦτον, πολλαὶ ἐποίησαν δύναμιν· σὺ δὲ ὑπέρκεισαι, ὑπερῇρας πάσας.
Many daughters have obtained wealth, Many have wrought valiantly; But thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
30
שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶבֶל הַיֹּפִי אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת־יְהוָה הִיא תִתְהַלָּל
Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth HaShem, she shall be praised.
Ψευδεῖς ἀρέσκειαι, καὶ μάταιον κάλλος γυναικος· γυνὴ γὰρ συνετὴ εὐλογεῖται, φόβον δὲ Κυρίου αὕτη αἰνείτω.
Charms are false, and woman’s beauty is vain: For it is a wise woman that is blessed, And let her praise the fear of the Lord.
31
תְּנוּ־לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶיהָ וִיהַלְלוּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ 915 31 4 4
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates.
Δότε αὐτῇ ἀπὸ καρπῶν χειλέων αὐτῆς, καὶ αἰνείσθω ἐν πύλαις ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς.
Give her of the fruit of her lips; And let her husband be praised in the gates.