1 P alabras de Lemuel rey de Massá; el oráculo con que le enseñó su madre.

The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

2 ¿ Qué, hijo mío?; ¿y qué, hijo de mi vientre? ¿Y qué, hijo de mis deseos?

What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 N o des a las mujeres tu fuerza, Ni tus caminos a lo que destruye a los reyes.

Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 N o es para los reyes, oh Lemuel, no es para los reyes beber vino, Ni para los príncipes los licores;

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

5 N o sea que bebiendo olviden la ley, Y perviertan el derecho de todos los afligidos.

Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

6 D ad el licor fuerte al desfallecido, Y el vino a los de amargado ánimo.

Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

7 B eban, y olvídense de su necesidad, Y de su miseria no se acuerden más.

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

8 A bre tu boca a favor del mudo En el juicio de todos los desvalidos.

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

9 A bre tu boca, juzga con justicia, Y defiende la causa del pobre y del menesteroso. Elogio de la mujer hacendosa

Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. The Virtuous Wife

10 M ujer virtuosa, ¿quién la hallará? Porque su valía sobrepasa largamente a la de las piedras preciosas.

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

11 E l corazón de su marido confía en ella, Y no carecerá de ganancias.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.

12 L e aporta ella dicha y no desventura Todos los días de su vida.

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

13 B usca lana y lino, Y con ánimo alegre trabaja con sus manos.

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

14 E s como nave de mercader; Trae de lejos sus provisiones.

She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.

15 S e levanta cuando todavía es de noche Y da comida a su familia Y labor a sus criadas.

She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.

16 O bserva una finca, y la compra, Y planta una viña del fruto de sus manos.

She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17 C iñe con fuerza sus lomos, Y esfuerza sus brazos.

She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.

18 V e que van bien sus negocios; Su lámpara no se apaga de noche.

She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.

19 A plica su mano al huso, Y sus palmas sostienen la rueca.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.

20 A larga su palma al pobre, Y extiende sus manos al menesteroso.

She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 N o tiene temor de la nieve por su familia, Porque toda su familia está vestida de trajes forrados.

She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22 E lla se hace tapices; De lino fino y púrpura es su vestido.

She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 S u marido es conocido en las puertas, Cuando se sienta con los ancianos de la tierra,

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

24 H ace telas, y las vende, Y da ceñidores al mercader.

She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.

25 F uerza y honor son su vestidura; Y sonríe ante el porvenir.

Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 A bre su boca con sabiduría, Y la instrucción bondadosa está en su lengua.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 V igila los caminos de su familia, Y no come el pan de balde.

She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 S e levantan sus hijos y la llaman dichosa; Y su marido también la alaba:

Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:

29 M uchas mujeres se mostraron virtuosas; Mas tú las sobrepasas a todas.

“Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”

30 E ngañosa es la gracia, y vana la hermosura; La mujer que teme a Jehová, ésa será alabada.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 D adle del fruto de sus manos, Y alábenla en las puertas sus hechos.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.