箴言 知恵の泉 31

1 レムエル王のことば即ちその母の彼に教へし箴言なり

The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.

2 わが子よ何を言んか わが胎の子よ何をいはんか 我が願ひて得たる子よ何をいはんか

What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?

3 なんぢの力を女につひやすなかれ 王を滅すものに汝の途をまかする勿れ

Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.

4 レムエルよ酒を飮は王の爲べき事に非ず 王の爲べき事にあらず 醇醪を求むるは牧伯の爲すべき事にあらず

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?

5 恐くは洒を飮て律法をわすれ 且すべて惱まさるる者の審判を枉げん

For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.

6 醇醪を亡びんとする者にあたへ 酒を心の傷める者にあたへよ

Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:

7 かれ飮てその貧窮をわすれ復その苦楚を憶はざるべし

Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.

8 なんぢ瘖者のため又すべての孤者の訟のために口をひらけ

Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.

9 なんぢ口をひらきて義しき審判をなし貧者と窮乏者の訟を糺せ

Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.

10 誰か賢き女を見出すことを得ん その價は眞珠よりも貴とし

Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.

11 その夫の心は彼を恃み その産業は乏しくならじ

The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.

12 彼が存命ふる間はその夫に善事をなして惡き事をなさず

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 彼は羊の毛と麻とを求め喜びて手から操き

She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.

14 商賈の舟のごとく遠き國よりその糧を運び

She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.

15 夜のあけぬ先に起てその家人に糧をあたへ その婢女に日用の分をあたふ

She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.

16 田畝をはかりて之を買ひ その手の操作をもて葡萄園を植ゑ

After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.

17 力をもて腰に帯し その手を強くす

She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.

18 彼はその利潤の益あるを知る その燈火は終夜きえず

She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.

19 かれ手を紡線車にのべ その指に紡錘をとり

She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.

20 手を貧者にのべ 手を困苦者に舒ぶ

Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.

21 彼は家人の爲に雪をおそれず 蓋その家人みな蕃紅の衣をきればなり

She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.

22 彼はおのれの爲に美しき褥子をつくり 細布と紫とをもてその衣とせり

She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.

23 その夫はその地の長老とともに邑の門に坐するによりて人に知らるるなり

Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.

24 彼は細布の衣を製りてこれをうり 帯をつくりて商賈にあたふ

She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.

25 彼は筋力と尊貴とを衣とし且のちの日を笑ふ

Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.

26 彼は口を啓きて智慧をのぶ 仁愛の教誨その舌にあり

Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.

27 かれはその家の事を鑒み 怠惰の糧を食はず

She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.

28 その衆子は起て彼を祝す その夫も彼を讃ていふ

Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,

29 賢く事をなす女子は多けれども 汝はすべての女子に愈れり

Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.

30 艶麗はいつはりなり 美色は呼吸のごとし 惟ヱホバを畏るる女は誉られん

Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.

31 その手の操作の果をこれにあたへ その行爲によりてこれを邑の門にほめよ

Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.