The Bible
דִּ֭בְרֵי לְמוּאֵ֣ל מֶ֑לֶךְ מַ֝שָּׂ֗א אֲֽשֶׁר־יִסְּרַ֥תּוּ אִמּֽוֹ׃
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
מַה־בְּ֭רִי וּמַֽה־בַּר־בִּטְנִ֑י וּ֝מֶה בַּר־נְדָרָֽי׃
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
אַל־תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין׃
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
אַ֤ל לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים ׀ לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל אַ֣ל לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים שְׁתוֹ־יָ֑יִן וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים (או) [אֵ֣י] שֵׁכָֽר׃
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
פֶּן־יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח מְחֻקָּ֑ק וִֽ֝ישַׁנֶּה דִּ֣ין כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֹֽנִי׃
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
תְּנוּ־שֵׁכָ֣ר לְאוֹבֵ֑ד וְ֝יַיִן לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ׃
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח רִישׁ֑וֹ וַ֝עֲמָל֗וֹ לֹ֣א יִזְכָּר־עֽוֹד׃
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
פְּתַח־פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל־דִּ֝֗ין כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף׃
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
פְּתַח־פִּ֥יךָ שְׁפָט־צֶ֑דֶק וְ֝דִ֗ין עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
אֵֽשֶׁת־חַ֭יִל מִ֣י יִמְצָ֑א וְרָחֹ֖ק מִפְּנִינִ֣ים מִכְרָֽהּ׃
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
בָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר׃
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
גְּמָלַ֣תְהוּ ט֣וֹב וְלֹא־רָ֑ע כֹּ֝֗ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּֽיה׃
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
דָּ֭רְשָׁה צֶ֣מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂ בְּחֵ֣פֶץ כַּפֶּֽיהָ׃
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
הָ֭יְתָה כָּאֳנִיּ֣וֹת סוֹחֵ֑ר מִ֝מֶּרְחָ֗ק תָּבִ֥יא לַחְמָֽהּ׃
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
וַתָּ֤קָם ׀ בְּע֬וֹד לַ֗יְלָה וַתִּתֵּ֣ן טֶ֣רֶף לְבֵיתָ֑הּ וְ֝חֹ֗ק לְנַעֲרֹתֶֽיהָ׃
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
זָמְמָ֣ה שָׂ֭דֶה וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ מִפְּרִ֥י כַ֝פֶּ֗יהָ (נטע) [נָ֣טְעָה] כָּֽרֶם׃
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
חָֽגְרָ֣ה בְע֣וֹז מָתְנֶ֑יהָ וַ֝תְּאַמֵּ֗ץ זְרֹעוֹתֶֽיהָ׃
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
טָ֭עֲמָה כִּי־ט֣וֹב סַחְרָ֑הּ לֹֽא־יִכְבֶּ֖ה (בליל) [בַלַּ֣יְלָה] נֵרָֽהּ׃
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
יָ֭דֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָ֣ה בַכִּישׁ֑וֹר וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָ תָּ֣מְכוּ פָֽלֶךְ׃
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
כַּ֭פָּהּ פָּרְשָׂ֣ה לֶעָנִ֑י וְ֝יָדֶ֗יהָ שִׁלְּחָ֥ה לָֽאֶבְיֽוֹן׃
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
לֹא־תִירָ֣א לְבֵיתָ֣הּ מִשָּׁ֑לֶג כִּ֥י כָל־בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּ לָבֻ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
מַרְבַדִּ֥ים עָֽשְׂתָה־לָּ֑הּ שֵׁ֖שׁ וְאַרְגָּמָ֣ן לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
נוֹדָ֣ע בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים בַּעְלָ֑הּ בְּ֝שִׁבְתּ֗וֹ עִם־זִקְנֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
סָדִ֣ין עָ֭שְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּ֑ר וַ֝חֲג֗וֹר נָתְנָ֥ה לַֽכְּנַעֲנִֽי׃
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
עֹז־וְהָדָ֥ר לְבוּשָׁ֑הּ וַ֝תִּשְׂחַ֗ק לְי֣וֹם אַחֲרֽוֹן׃
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
פִּ֭יהָ פָּתְחָ֣ה בְחָכְמָ֑ה וְתֽוֹרַת־חֶ֝֗סֶד עַל־לְשׁוֹנָֽהּ׃
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
צ֭וֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכ֣וֹת בֵּיתָ֑הּ וְלֶ֥חֶם עַ֝צְל֗וּת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵֽל׃
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
קָ֣מוּ בָ֭נֶיהָ וַֽיְאַשְּׁר֑וּהָ בַּ֝עְלָ֗הּ וַֽיְהַֽלְלָהּ׃
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
רַבּ֣וֹת בָּ֭נוֹת עָ֣שׂוּ חָ֑יִל וְ֝אַ֗תְּ עָלִ֥ית עַל־כֻּלָּֽנָה׃
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭חֵן וְהֶ֣בֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי אִשָּׁ֥ה יִרְאַת־יְ֝הוָ֗ה הִ֣יא תִתְהַלָּֽל׃
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
תְּנוּ־לָ֭הּ מִפְּרִ֣י יָדֶ֑יהָ וִֽיהַלְל֖וּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִ֣ים מַעֲשֶֽׂיהָ׃
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.