Lea Fakatātā 31

1 Ko e ngaahi lea ʻae tuʻi ko Limueli, ko e tala naʻe akonaki ʻaki ia ʻe heʻene faʻē.

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 “Ko e hā, ʻeku tama? Pea ko e hā, ʻae tama ʻo hoku manāva? Pea ko e hā, ʻae tama ʻa ʻeku ngaahi fuakava?

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3 ‌ʻOua naʻa tuku ho mālohi ki he kakai fefine, pe ko ho ngaahi hala ki he meʻa ʻoku ʻauha ai ʻae ngaahi tuʻi.

Give not your strength unto women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 ‌ʻOku ʻikai taau mo e ngaahi tuʻi, ʻE Limueli, ʻoku ʻikai taau mo e ngaahi tuʻi ke faʻa inu kava pe ke inu ʻe he houʻeiki ʻae kava kona.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Telia naʻa nau inu, pea ngalo ai ʻae fono, pea taʻetotonu ai ʻae fakamaau, ki he kakai ʻoku mamahi.

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 ‌ʻAtu ʻae kava mālohi kiate ia ʻoku meimei mate, mo e uaine kiate kinautolu ʻoku māfasia honau loto.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Tuku ke ne inu ke ngalo ai ʻene masiva, pea ʻoua naʻa toe manatu ki heʻene mamahi.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Ke matoʻo ho ngutu koeʻuhi ko e noa, ʻi he meʻa ʻanautolu kotoa pē kuo fakamaau ki he mate.

Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Matoʻo ho ngutu, pea ke fakamaau māʻoniʻoni, pea ke langomakiʻi ʻae masiva, pea mo e paea ʻi heʻene meʻa.”

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Ko hai ʻoku faʻa maʻu ʻae fefine fai lelei? He ʻoku maʻongoʻonga ia ʻi he ngaahi maka koloa.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 ‌ʻOku falala fakamoʻomoʻoni kiate ia ʻae loto ʻo hono husepāniti, pea ʻe ʻikai ʻaonga kiate ia ha meʻa ʻoku maʻu ʻi he fakamālohi.

The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 ‌ʻE fai lelei ia kiate ia, ka ʻe ʻikai ha kovi ʻi he ʻaho kotoa pē ʻo ʻene moʻui:

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

13 ‌ʻOku ne kumi ʻae fulufuluʻi sipi, mo e louʻakau, ʻo ne ngāue fiefia ʻaki ʻa hono nima.

She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands.

14 ‌ʻOku ne hangē ko e ngaahi vaka ʻoe kau fakatau, he ʻoku ne ʻomi ʻene meʻakai mei he mamaʻo.

She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from far.

15 ‌ʻOku ne tuʻu hake foki ʻi he kei poʻuli, ʻo ne tufaki ʻae meʻakai ki heʻene kau nofoʻanga, mo e ʻinasi ʻo ʻene kau kaunanga.

She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 ‌ʻOku ne manako ki ha ngoue, pea ne fakatau ia: pea ʻoku ne tō ʻae ngoue vaine mei he fua ʻo hono nima.

She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 ‌ʻOku nonoʻo ʻaki ʻae mālohi ʻa hono kongaloto, ʻoku ne fakamālohi hono nima.

She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.

18 ‌ʻOku ne ʻilo ʻoku lelei ʻae meʻa ʻoku ne fakatauʻaki: ʻoku ʻikai ke mate ʻene maama ʻi he pō.

She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night.

19 ‌ʻOku ne ai hono nima ki he meʻa ʻoku fīʻaki ʻae filo, pea ʻoku puke ʻi hono nima ʻae ʻaiʻanga filo.

She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 ‌ʻOku mafao atu hono nima ki he masiva, ʻio, ʻoku mafao atu hono nima kiate kinautolu ʻoku paea.

She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reachs forth her hands to the needy.

21 ‌ʻOku ʻikai manavahē ia ki he tō mai ʻae ʻuha hinehina ki heʻene kau nofoʻanga: he ʻoku lōua ʻae kofu ʻo ʻene kau nofoʻanga kotoa pē.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 ‌ʻOku ne ngaohi kiate ia ʻae ngaahi kofuʻaki ʻae tupenu kuo tuitui fakasanisani: ko hono ngaahi kofu ko e silika mo e meʻa kulaʻahoʻaho.

She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 ‌ʻOku ongoongoa hono husepāniti ʻi he ngaahi matapā, ʻoka nofo hifo ia mo e kau mātuʻa ʻoe fonua.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 ‌ʻOku ngaohi ʻe ia ʻae tupenu tuʻovalevale lelei, ʻo ne fakatauʻaki: pea ʻoku ʻatu ʻa hono ngaahi noʻo ki he kau fakatau.

She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant.

25 Ko hono kofu ko e mālohi mo e ongoongolelei; pea ʻe fiefia ia ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho kimui.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 ‌ʻOku matoʻo hono ngutu ʻi he poto; pea ʻoku ʻi hono ʻelelo ʻae fono ʻoe ʻofa.

She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 ‌ʻOku ne tokanga lahi ki he anga ʻo hono fale, pea ʻoku ʻikai ke kai ʻe ia ʻae mā ʻae fakapikopiko.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.

28 ‌ʻOku tupu hake ʻene fānau, ʻonau ui ia ko e monūʻia; pea ʻoku fakaongoongoleleiʻi ia ʻe hono husepāniti foki.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

29 “Kuo fai lelei ʻe he kau ʻofefine tokolahi, ka ʻoku ke lelei hake koe ʻiate kinautolu kotoa pē.”

Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.

30 Ko e meʻa kākā ʻae matamatalelei, pea ko e vaʻinga ʻae hoihoifua: ka ko e fefine ʻoku manavahē kia Sihova ʻe fakaongoongoleleiʻi ia.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Foaki kiate ia mei he fua ʻo hono nima: pea tuku pe ke fakaongoongoleleiʻi ia ʻi he ngaahi matapā ʻe heʻene ngaahi ngāue ʻaʻana.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.