서론
Proverbs 31 Introduction
英文原文
See the introduction to Proverbs.
1
Proverbs 31:1
「他母親教訓他的真言」——比較箴言 1:8；箴言 6:20。若將本章歸於以色列作者，我們可以想起人們對米利暗、底波拉與戶勒大之智慧的尊崇；若這是加於以東人或亞拉伯人身上的尊榮，我們可以想到示巴女王，她對智慧的愛慕引導她坐在大衛之子的腳前。
英文原文
That his mother taught him - Compare Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 6:20. If we refer the chapter to Israelite authorship, we may remember the honor paid to the wisdom of Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah; if it was the honor paid to an Edomite or an Arabian, we may think of the Queen of Sheba, whose love of Wisdom led her to sit at the feet of the son of David.
2
Proverbs 31:2
這些重複是著重的，表達懇切的愛。
「我許願得的兒子」——像撒母耳與參孫一樣，是常在禱告中祈求而得的孩子，那禱告以奉獻之願加以確立。利慕伊勒這名字（直譯為「屬於神」，即獻給他）可以是那奉獻的表達；而不可放縱飲酒的警告（箴言 31:4）顯示其中含有拿細耳人或利甲族人觀念的成分。
英文原文
The repetitions are emphatic; expressive of anxious love.
Son of my vows - Like Samuel, and Samson, the child often asked for in prayer, the prayer ratified by a vow of dedication. The name Lemuel (literally "for God," consecrated to Him) may be the expression of that dedication; and the warning against indulging in wine Proverbs 31:4 shows that it had something of the Nazarite or Rechabite idea in it.
3
Proverbs 31:3
「那毀滅人的」——那時與如今一樣，後宮的誘惑是一切東方王朝的咒詛。
英文原文
To that which destroyeth - The temptations of the harem were then, as now, the curse of all Eastern kingdoms.
4
Proverbs 31:4
有人讀作：「君王也不可說：濃酒在哪裏？」這「濃酒」（箴言 20:1）是由大麥、蜂蜜或棗子釀成的。
英文原文
Some read: "nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?" The "strong drink" Proverbs 20:1 was distilled from barley, or honey, or dates.
6
Proverbs 31:6
酒之力對人身心作用的真正目的，在於作為恢復與療治之劑。比較旁註參考經文。同樣的思想見於猶太人遞一杯酒給居喪者的習俗，也見於（如受難歷史所載）遞酒給受刑囚犯的作法。
英文原文
The true purpose of the power of wine over man's mind and body, as a restorative and remedial agent. Compare the margin reference. The same thought showed itself in the Jewish practice of giving a cup of wine to mourners, and (as in the history of the crucifixion) to criminals at their execution.
8
Proverbs 31:8
與東方君主的兩種積習之罪相對的，是他們的一大本分：幫助那些別無援助者。
將要滅亡的——按字面直譯為「喪失之子」，或如正文所載，指「注定被奪去生命或財產的人」，或指「喪親或無父的孩童」。
英文原文
In contrast with the two besetting sins of Eastern monarchs stands their one great duty, to give help to those who had no other helper.
Such as are appointed to destruction - literally, "children of bereavement," with the sense, either, as in the text, of those "destined to be bereaved of life or goods," or of "bereaved or fatherless children."
10
Proverbs 31:10
參看箴言的緒論。
紅寶石——更宜譯作「珍珠」。見 Proverbs 3:15 註釋。
英文原文
See the introduction to Proverbs.
Rubies - Better, pearls. See the Proverbs 3:15 note.
11
Proverbs 31:11
必不缺少利益——更宜譯作：「不缺收益」，即不缺誠實的收益。
英文原文
No need of spoil - Better, no lack of gain, lack of honest gain.
13
Proverbs 31:13
甘心用手作工——或譯作「以樂意的手作工」。經文如此強調以色列主婦勤於勞作的習慣，或許正屬於那種習慣逐漸消逝的時代，如猶大王朝時期。
英文原文
Worketh willingly with her hands - Or, worketh with willing hands. The stress laid upon the industrial habits of Israelite matrons may perhaps belong to a time when, as under the monarchy of Judah, those habits were passing away.
14
Proverbs 31:14
這比喻指向以色列人在大衛和所羅門時代與腓尼基人接觸後隨之擴展的商業；可比較 Proverbs 31:24。
英文原文
The comparison points to the enlarged commerce of the Israelites consequent on their contact with the Phoenicians under David and Solomon; compare Proverbs 31:24.
15
Proverbs 31:15
將當作的工分派婢女——即在供給每日飲食的同時，分派給各人的每日工作。比較 Proverbs 30:8；Exodus 5:14。
英文原文
A portion to her maidens - The daily task assigned to each at the same time as the daily food. Compare Proverbs 30:8; Exodus 5:14.
16
Proverbs 31:16
本節顯示女性活動的廣闊領域，與今日東方婦女所淪落的卑下境況形成鮮明對比。
英文原文
The verse points to a large sphere of feminine activity, strikingly in contrast with the degradation to which woman in the East has now fallen.
20
Proverbs 31:20
這勤勞並非自私，而是結出慷慨施捨的果子。
英文原文
The industry is not selfish, but bears the fruit of an open-handed charity.
21
Proverbs 31:21
朱紅衣服——或指某種眾所周知的衣著，一望即知其顏色鮮明；或如一些人所以為，以其雙層織法和保暖著稱。
英文原文
Scarlet - Probably some well-known articles of dress, at once conspicuous for their color, or, as some think, for their double texture and warmth.
22
Proverbs 31:22
細麻——譯作「細麻布」更好，即埃及的上等亞麻布（byssus）。
英文原文
Silk - Better, fine linen, the byssus of Egypt.
23
Proverbs 31:23
妻子的勤勞使丈夫得享自由，能在坐席議事的長老中間取得自己的位置。
英文原文
The industry of the wife leaves the husband free to take his place among the elders that sit in councils.
24
Proverbs 31:24
細麻布衣裳——與箴言 31:22 註釋裏的字不同；這裏指一件製成的衣服（以賽亞書 3:23）。
商家——直譯是「迦南人」，即腓尼基商人。
英文原文
Fine linen - Not the same word as in Proverbs 31:22 note; it describes a made-up garment Isaiah 3:23.
Merchant - literally, "Canaanite," i. e., the Phoenician merchant.
25
Proverbs 31:25
想到日後的景況就喜笑——更好的譯法是「為將臨的時日歡喜」；意即她期待未來，不是帶著焦慮，而是帶著滿有確據的喜樂。
英文原文
Shall rejoice in time to come - Better, rejoiceth over the time to come; i. e., looks forward to the future, not with anxious care, but with confident gladness.
26
Proverbs 31:26
仁慈的法則——真實的妻從口中所出的言語，對聽見的人如同賜下引導與訓誨的法則；但這法則不是以它較嚴厲的面貌宣告出來，而是作為「憐憫調和了公義」的法則，並且顯明愛——律法的成全——正是這法則湧出的源頭。
英文原文
Law of kindness - The words which come from the lips of the true wife are as a law giving guidance and instruction to those that hear them; but the law is not proclaimed in its sterner aspects, but as one in which "mercy tempers justice," and love, the fulfilling of the law, is seen to be the source from which it springs.
29
Proverbs 31:29
這些是丈夫（箴言 31:28）被認為對理想妻子所說的稱讚之言。
才德地行——這希伯來字首要地（如拉丁文 virtus 一樣）帶有「力量」的觀念，但以各種不同意義的層次使用。在這裏（如箴言 12:4、路得記 3:11），這力量是指在良善中堅定不移的品格之力。在其他經文（例如創世記 34:29、詩篇 49:10），它則有「財富」的意思，七十士譯本與武加大譯本在此也如此理解，另見旁註譯法。
英文原文
The words of praise which the husband Proverbs 31:28 is supposed to have addressed to the ideal wife.
Virtuously - The Hebrew word has primarily (like "virtus") the idea of "strength," but is used with various shades of meaning. Here (as in Proverbs 12:4; Ruth 3:11) the strength is that of character stedfast in goodness. In other passages (e. g., Genesis 34:29; Psalm 49:10) it has the sense of "riches," and is so taken here by the Septuagint and Vulgate, see also the marginal rendering.
30
Proverbs 31:30
全書最後的教訓與最初的相同：敬畏耶和華是一切男子卓越的條件，也是一切女子卓越的條件。
英文原文
The last lesson of the book is the same as the first. The fear of the Lord is the condition of all womanly, as well as of all manly, excellence.
參見箴言緒論。