1 T he words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

Palabras del rey Lemuel, oráculo que le enseñó su madre.

2 W hat, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows and dedication to God?

¿Qué, hijo mío? ¿Qué, hijo de mis entrañas ? ¿Qué, hijo de mis votos ?

3 G ive not your strength to women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings.

No des tu vigor a las mujeres, ni tus caminos a lo que destruye a los reyes.

4 I t is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,

No es para los reyes, oh Lemuel, no es para los reyes beber vino, ni para los gobernantes desear bebida fuerte;

5 L est they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.

no sea que beban y olviden lo que se ha decretado, y perviertan los derechos de todos los afligidos.

6 G ive strong drink to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart.

Dad bebida fuerte al que está pereciendo, y vino a los amargados de alma.

7 L et him drink and forget his poverty and remember his want and misery no more.

Que beba y se olvide de su pobreza, y no recuerde más su aflicción.

8 O pen your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless;

Abre tu boca por los mudos, por los derechos de todos los desdichados.

9 O pen your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.

Abre tu boca, juzga con justicia, y defiende los derechos del afligido y del necesitado. Elogio de la mujer hacendosa

10 A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

Mujer hacendosa, ¿quién la hallará? Su valor supera en mucho al de las joyas.

11 T he heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of gain or need of spoil.

En ella confía el corazón de su marido, y no carecerá de ganancias.

12 S he comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

Ella le trae bien y no mal todos los días de su vida.

13 S he seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands.

Busca lana y lino, y con agrado trabaja con sus manos.

14 S he is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far.

Es como las naves de mercader, trae su alimento de lejos.

15 S he rises while it is yet night and gets food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

También se levanta cuando aún es de noche, y da alimento a los de su casa, y tarea a sus doncellas.

16 S he considers a field before she buys or accepts it; with her savings she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

Evalúa un campo y lo compra; con sus ganancias planta una viña.

17 S he girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong and firm.

Ella se ciñe de fuerza, y fortalece sus brazos.

18 S he tastes and sees that her gain from work is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night.

Nota que su ganancia es buena, no se apaga de noche su lámpara.

19 S he lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Extiende sus manos a la rueca, y sus manos toman el huso.

20 S he opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy.

Extiende su mano al pobre, y alarga sus manos al necesitado.

21 S he fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

No tiene temor de la nieve por los de su casa, porque todos los de su casa llevan ropa escarlata.

22 S he makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple.

Se hace mantos para sí; su ropa es de lino fino y de púrpura.

23 H er husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

Su marido es conocido en las puertas, cuando se sienta con los ancianos de la tierra.

24 S he makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles.

Hace telas de lino y las vende, y provee cinturones a los mercaderes.

25 S trength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future!

Fuerza y dignidad son su vestidura, y sonríe al futuro.

26 S he opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Abre su boca con sabiduría, y hay enseñanza de bondad en su lengua.

27 S he looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

Ella vigila la marcha de su casa, y no come el pan de la ociosidad.

28 H er children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her,,

Sus hijos se levantan y la llaman bienaventurada, también su marido, y la alaba diciendo:

29 M any daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well, but you excel them all.

Muchas mujeres han obrado con nobleza, pero tú las superas a todas.

30 C harm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain, but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

Engañosa es la gracia y vana la belleza, pero la mujer que teme al Señor, ésa será alabada.

31 G ive her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates!

Dadle el fruto de sus manos, y que sus obras la alaben en las puertas.