Amsal 31
1 Berikut ini adalah nasihat yang diajarkan kepada Raja Lemuel oleh ibunya:
These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
2 Oh anakku, anak kandungku, anak yang aku janjikan kepada TUHAN untuk menjadi pelayan-Nya. Dengarkanlah baik-baik nasihatku.
You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
3 Jangan menghabis-habiskan kekayaan dan segala perhatianmu untuk menambah selir-selirmu, sebab banyak raja telah hancur karena hal itu.
Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
4 Hai Lemuel, sebagai raja, tidak pantas bagimu bermabuk-mabukan dengan minum anggur atau minuman keras yang lain, bahkan menginginkannya pun tidaklah patut.
Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
5 Karena bila engkau mabuk, engkau akan melupakan undang-undang negara dan menginjak-injak hak rakyat biasa.
If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
6 Minuman keras hanya cocok bagi mereka yang sedang sekarat dan orang-orang yang merana.
Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
7 Biarlah mereka minum untuk melupakan kemiskinannya dan tak lagi mengingat-ingat masalahnya.
If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
8 Sedangkan engkau, engkau harus bersuara nyaring bagi mereka yang tak berdaya dan perlu pelindung.
Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
9 Gunakanlah posisimu untuk membuat keputusan yang adil dan membela hak orang yang miskin dan tertindas.
Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
10 Sungguh beruntung apabila seorang lelaki mendapat istri yang cakap. Sungguh, wanita itu jauh lebih berharga daripada permata.
It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
11 Dia bisa dipercaya oleh suaminya, dan sang suami tak akan kekurangan untung.
Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
12 Sepanjang hidup, dia mengusahakan yang baik bagi suaminya dan tak pernah merugikannya.
She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
13 Dengan rajin dia mencari wol dan rami lalu membuat dua macam benang.
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 Istri yang cakap bagaikan kapal-kapal pedagang yang mendatangkan makanan dari mana pun.
She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
15 Dia bangun sebelum matahari terbit untuk menyiapkan makanan bagi keluarganya, dan mengatur pekerjaan setiap budak perempuannya.
She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
16 Dia mengatur rencana yang matang, dan dengan penghasilannya dari usaha-usaha yang lain dia membeli tanah lalu menanam kebun anggur.
She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
17 Dia bekerja dengan cekatan, gesit, dan tangkas.
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 Istri yang cakap tahu bagaimana menghasilkan keuntungan dari pekerjaannya. Dia bekerja tekun sampai larut malam.
She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
19 Dia mampu menggunakan alat pemintal benang, dan jari-jarinya menggulung dengan rapi.
She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
20 Dia mau merangkul orang miskin dan mengulurkan tangan bagi yang membutuhkan.
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 Dia sudah menyiapkan baju hangat yang indah untuk seluruh keluarganya, sehingga tidak kuatir mereka kedinginan saat musim salju.
She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
22 Dia mempercantik rumahnya dengan tirai dan berbagai hiasan kain yang dia buat sendiri. Semua pakaiannya indah dan berkualitas tinggi.
She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
23 Suaminya dihormati masyarakat, terutama ketika duduk bersama para pemimpin di tempat pertemuan.
Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
24 Sang istri membuat pakaian dan ikat pinggang dari linen untuk dijual kepada para pedagang.
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 Dia perempuan yang kuat dan dihormati semua orang. Dia bergembira karena tak cemas akan hari depan.
She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
26 Ucapannya selalu bijaksana, memancarkan pengajaran dan kasih sayang.
When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
27 Dia memperhatikan keadaan rumah tangganya dengan cermat dan tak pernah diam bermalas-malasan.
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 Anak-anaknya menghormati serta memujinya. Juga suaminya memuji dia, katanya,
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 “Wanita yang cakap ada banyak, tetapi engkau jauh melebihi mereka semua.”
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Penampilan dapat menipu, dan kecantikan akan hilang. Tetapi wanita yang takut akan TUHAN sungguh terpuji.
Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
31 Balaslah segala hal baik yang sudah dilakukannya. Hasil pekerjaannya akan mengharumkan namanya di depan umum di kotanya.
Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
