What King Lemuel's Mother Taught Him
1 These are the sayings
that King Lemuel of Massa
was taught by his mother.
2 My son Lemuel, you were born
in answer to my prayers,
so listen carefully.
3 Don't waste your life
chasing after women!
This has ruined many kings.
4 Kings and leaders
should not get drunk
or even want to drink.
5 Drinking makes you forget
your responsibilities,
and you mistreat the poor.
6 Beer and wine are only
for the dying or for those
who have lost all hope.
7 Let them drink and forget
how poor and miserable
they feel.
8 But you must defend
those who are helpless
and have no hope.
9 Be fair and give justice
to the poor and homeless.
In Praise of a Good Wife
10 A truly good wife
is the most precious treasure
a man can find!
11 Her husband depends on her,
and she never
lets him down.
12 She is good to him
every day of her life,
13 and with her own hands
she gladly makes clothes.
14 She is like a sailing ship
that brings food
from across the sea.
15 She gets up before daylight
to prepare food for her family
and for her servants.
16 She knows how to buy land
and how to plant a vineyard,
17 and she always works hard.
18 She knows when to buy or sell,
and she stays busy
until late at night.
19 She spins her own cloth,
20 and she helps the poor
and the needy.
21 Her family has warm clothing,
and so she doesn't worry
when it snows.
22 She does her own sewing,
and everything she wears
is beautiful.
23 Her husband is a well-known
and respected leader
in the city.
24 She makes clothes to sell
to the shop owners.
25 She is strong and graceful,
as well as cheerful
about the future.
26 Her words are sensible,
and her advice
is thoughtful.
27 She takes good care
of her family
and is never lazy.
28 Her children praise her,
and with great pride
her husband says,
29 “There are many good women,
but you are the best!”
30 Charm can be deceiving,
and beauty fades away,
but a woman
who honors the Lord
deserves to be praised.
31 Show her respect—
praise her in public
for what she has done.
Ina yohamba Lemuel ta longo omona waye omumati
1 Eendjovo daLemuel, ohamba yaMassa, ina e i kumaida nado: 2 “Oshike, omumwange omumati, heeno, oshike omumwange womedimo lange, heeno, oshike omumwange womaudaneko ange, ndi nokutya? 3 Eenghono doye ino di yandja kovakainhu, kwaava hava nyono po eehamba. 4 Akutu Lemuel, inashi wapalela eehamba, heeno, inashi wapalela eehamba okunwa omaviinyu ndele inashi wapalela ovapangeli okupula: Oikunwa idjuu oi li peni? 5 Osheshi mokunwa kwaye oikolwifa ta dimbwa eenghedimhango ndele ta pengifa ouyuki wovakwanaluhepo aveshe. 6 Oikolwifa i peni ou a nyika okunyonauka po, nomaviinyu ava ve neemwenyo da nyika oluhodi. 7 Ye na nwe, opo a dimbwe oluhepo laye, ndele ita dimbulukwa vali oupyakadi waye. 8 Okanya koye ka makulila omufitandaka, u popile moihokolola aveshe hava fininikwa. 9 Makula okanya koye, tokola pauyuki, u yukife eendjovo deehepele nodovakwanaluhepo.”
Omwalikadi muwa
10 Olyelye ta ka mona omwalikadi muwa? Ondilo yaye oinene i dule ondilo yomba koshilanda. 11 Omutima womulumenhu waye tau mu lineekele, ye ita pumbwa eliko. 12 Oye ta ningile omulumenhu waye osho shiwa, hasho eshi shii momafiku aeshe omokukalamwenyo kwaye. 13 Ye ota humbata oshisho sholududi leedi nosholiina ndele ta longo nomake e nehalo liwa. 14 Ye e li ngaashi eeskepa domulandifi, ota kongo kokule omungome waye. 15 Ndele ye oha meneka oufiku, neumbo laye te li pe eendja noitukulwa yavo kovapiya vaye. 16 Ye a hala epya ndele te li lande. Omeliko lomake aye te litwikile oshikokola shomiviinyu. 17 Oye te lidike moshiya shaye neenghono, ndele ta pameke omaoko aye. 18 Oye e wete omaliko aye taa hapupala. Olamba yaye itai dimi oufiku. 19 Eke laye tali kwata oshihodilifo nominwe daye tadi kwata oshitungifo shoshiyata. 20 Eke laye te li futululile eehepele, omake aye avali ote a twala komukwanaluhepo. 21 Eumbo laye ihali tila molweandu, osheshi eumbo laye alishe la dikwa olududi litilyana leedi. 22 Ye ote liningile omakumbafa. Oikutu yaye oyo oliina iwa nopurpuri. 23 Omulumenhu waye a shiivika poshivelo, eshi ta kala ko omutumba pamwe novakulunhu voshilongo. 24 Ye ota ningi eehema, ndele te di landifa, nomiya doshiyata te di shingifa po komulandifi woipindi. 25 Eenghono nefimano, odo oshikutu shaye, ndele ta yolo efiku tali ke uya. 26 Okanya kaye te ka makulile eendjovo dounongo, nomalongo matalala e li kelaka laye. 27 Ota pashukile nawa oilonga aishe yomeumbo laye, ndele ita li omungome wondede. 28 Ovana vaye ovamati tava fikama ndele tave mu pandulile elao laye nosho yo omulumenhu waye, ndele ye te mu pandula ta ti: 29 “Ovakainhu vahapu ve noudiinini moilonga, ndelenee ove u va dule aveshe unene.” 30 Onhemokainhu kai shii kulineekelwa. Ouwa womukainhu tau xulu po. Omwalikadi ou ha tila Omwene na hambelelwe. 31 Na shambukwe komwenyo molwoilonga yomake aye. Noilonga yaye nai mu pandule poshivelo.
