TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 31
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, with which his mother admonished him:
di-v'-REI le-mu-EL me-LEKH, ma-SA a-SHER yi-s'-RA-tu i-MO
אדִּ֭בְרֵי לְמוּאֵ֣ל מֶ֑לֶךְ מַ֝שָּׂ֗א אֲֽשֶׁר־יִסְּרַ֥תּוּ אִמּֽוֹ׃
2No, my son! No, O son of my womb! No, O son of my vows!
ma b'-ri u-ma bar bi-t'-ni u-meh bar n'-da-RAI
במַה־בְּ֭רִי וּמַֽה־בַּר־בִּטְנִ֑י וּ֝מֶ֗ה בַּר־נְדָרָֽי׃
3Do not give your strength to women, Your vigor, to those who destroy kings.
al-ti-TEN la-na-SHEEM KHEY-le-KHA u-d'-ra-KHE-kha la-m'-KHOT m'-la-KHEEN
גאַל־תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין׃
4Wine is not for kings, O Lemuel; Not for kings to drink, Nor any strong drink for princes,
AL la-m'-la-KHEEM, l'-mo-EL, AL la-m'-la-KHEEM, sh'-to ya-YIN, u-l'-ro-z'-NEEM (o) [e]-sh'-KAR.
דאַ֤ל לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים ׀ לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל אַ֣ל לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים שְׁתוֹ־יָ֑יִן וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים (או) [אֵ֣י] שֵׁכָֽר׃
5Lest they drink and forget what has been ordained, And infringe on the rights of the poor.
pen-yish-TEH v'-yish-KAKH m'-khoo-KAK v'-yish-NEH DEEN kol b'-NAY o-NEE
הפֶּן־יִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח מְחֻקָּ֑ק וִ֝ישַׁנֶּ֗ה דִּ֣ין כׇּל־בְּנֵי־עֹֽנִי׃
6Give strong drink to the hapless And wine to the embittered.
te-nu-SHE-khar le-o-VED, v'-ya-YIN le-ma-REI na-FESH
ותְּנוּ־שֵׁכָ֣ר לְאוֹבֵ֑ד וְ֝יַ֗יִן לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ׃
7Let them drink and forget their poverty, And put their troubles out of mind.
YIS-teh v'-yish-KAH ree-SHO va-a-MA-lo lo yiz-KOR-OD. (Selah)
זיִ֭שְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּ֣ח רִישׁ֑וֹ וַ֝עֲמָל֗וֹ לֹ֣א יִזְכׇּר־עֽוֹד׃
8Speak up for the dumb, For the rights of all the unfortunate.
pe-TAkh-PI-kha l'-i-LEM el DEEN kol b'-NAY kha-LOF
חפְּתַח־פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל־דִּ֝֗ין כׇּל־בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף׃
9Speak up, judge righteously, Champion the poor and the needy.
pe-takh-pee-KHA sh'-FOT tze-DEK v'-DEEN a-NEE v'-ev-YON
טפְּתַח־פִּ֥יךָ שְׁפׇט־צֶ֑דֶק וְ֝דִ֗ין עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃
10What a rare find is a capable wife! Her worth is far beyond that of rubies.
AY-shet KHA-yil MEE yim-TZA v'-ra-KHOK mi-p'-nee-NEEM mikh-RAH
יאֵֽשֶׁת־חַ֭יִל מִ֣י יִמְצָ֑א וְרָחֹ֖ק מִפְּנִינִ֣ים מִכְרָֽהּ׃
31:10 A capable wife
This chapter contains an extended poem in praise of the eishet chayil, translated here as ‘capable wife,’ but generally referred to as the ‘woman of valor’ (verses 10-31). She provides for her family in all ways, both materially and spiritually, and her endeavors and accomplishments are praised by the members of her household and by others. This poem is sung by Jews around the world on Friday nights, as they begin the first Shabbat meal. It is often understood as a praise for the Jewish woman who works hard to care for her family and for others, and to prepare for the Shabbat each week. On a more mystical plane, it has been said in the name of the sixteenth century Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, who is known by the acronym Arizal, that “the Land of Israel is the earthly manifestation of the woman of valor.” When the Children of Israel follow Hashem faithfully in this unique land, they are provided for, both materially and spiritually. And, the beauty and charm of Eretz Yisrael are recognized and praised by all, Jews and non-Jews alike.
11Her husband puts his confidence in her, And lacks no good thing.
ba-TAKH ba-HA lev ba-a-LAH v'-sha-LAL lo ye-KH'-sar
יאבָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר׃
12She is good to him, never bad, All the days of her life.
g'-ma-LA-t'-HU tov v'-lo-RA kol ye-MAY kha-YE-ha
יבגְּמָלַ֣תְהוּ ט֣וֹב וְלֹא־רָ֑ע כֹּ֝֗ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּֽיהָ׃
13She looks for wool and flax, And sets her hand to them with a will.
dar-SHA tse-MER u-fish-TIM va-ta-AS b'-khe-FETZ ka-PE-ha
יגדָּ֭רְשָׁה צֶ֣מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַ֝תַּ֗עַשׂ בְּחֵ֣פֶץ כַּפֶּֽיהָ׃
14She is like a merchant fleet, Bringing her food from afar.
ha-YE-tah ko-a-nee-YOT so-CHEIR mi-MER-chak ta-VEE lach-MAH
ידהָ֭יְתָה כׇּאֳנִיּ֣וֹת סוֹחֵ֑ר מִ֝מֶּרְחָ֗ק תָּבִ֥יא לַחְמָֽהּ׃
15She rises while it is still night, And supplies provisions for her household, The daily fare of her maids.
va-TA-kom b'-OD la-Y'-LA va-ti-TAYN TE-ref l'-vei-TAH v'-KHOK l'-na-a-RO-tei-HA
טווַתָּ֤קׇם ׀ בְּע֬וֹד לַ֗יְלָה וַתִּתֵּ֣ן טֶ֣רֶף לְבֵיתָ֑הּ וְ֝חֹ֗ק לְנַעֲרֹתֶֽיהָ׃
16She sets her mind on an estate and acquires it; She plants a vineyard by her own labors.
ZOM-ma SA-deh va-ti-ka-KHE-hu mi-p'-REE ka-PE-ha (na-TA) [na-TE-a] KA-rem
טזזָֽמְמָ֣ה שָׂ֭דֶה וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ מִפְּרִ֥י כַ֝פֶּ֗יהָ (נטע) [נָ֣טְעָה] כָּֽרֶם׃
17She girds herself with strength, And performs her tasks with vigor.
kha-G'-RAH b'-OZ mot-NEE-ha va-t'-a-METZ z'-ro-o-TE-ha
יזחָֽגְרָ֣ה בְע֣וֹז מׇתְנֶ֑יהָ וַ֝תְּאַמֵּ֗ץ זְרוֹעֹתֶֽיהָ׃
18She sees that her business thrives; Her lamp never goes out at night.
ta-A-ma ki-TOV sa-KHA-rah lo-yikh-BEH (ba-LAY-lah) [ba-la-y'-LAH] ne-RAH
יחטָ֭עֲמָה כִּי־ט֣וֹב סַחְרָ֑הּ לֹא־יִכְבֶּ֖ה (בליל) [בַלַּ֣יְלָה] נֵרָֽהּ׃
19She sets her hand to the distaff; Her fingers work the spindle.
ya-DE-ha shi-le-KHA va-ki-SHOR v'-ka-PE-ha ta-m'-KU fa-LEKH
יטיָ֭דֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָ֣ה בַכִּישׁ֑וֹר וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָ תָּ֣מְכוּ פָֽלֶךְ׃
20She gives generously to the poor; Her hands are stretched out to the needy.
ka-PAH pa-RE-sah le-a-NEE, v'-ya-DE-ha shi-le-KHA la-ev-YON
ככַּ֭פָּהּ פָּֽרְשָׂ֣ה לֶעָנִ֑י וְ֝יָדֶ֗יהָ שִׁלְּחָ֥ה לָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃
21She is not worried for her household because of snow, For her whole household is dressed in crimson.
lo-ti-RA l'-vei-TAH mi-sha-LEG, ki kol-bei-TAH la-BUSH sha-NEEM
כאלֹא־תִירָ֣א לְבֵיתָ֣הּ מִשָּׁ֑לֶג כִּ֥י כׇל־בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּ לָבֻ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃
22She makes covers for herself; Her clothing is linen and purple.
mar-va-DIM o-sta-LAH, shesh v'-ar-ga-MAN l'-bu-SHAH
כבמַרְבַדִּ֥ים עָֽשְׂתָה־לָּ֑הּ שֵׁ֖שׁ וְאַרְגָּמָ֣ן לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃
23Her husband is prominent in the gates, As he sits among the elders of the land.
no-DA ba-sh'-a-REEM ba-a-LAH b'-shi-TO im zik-NAY a-RETZ
כגנוֹדָ֣ע בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים בַּעְלָ֑הּ בְּ֝שִׁבְתּ֗וֹ עִם־זִקְנֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
24She makes cloth and sells it, And offers a girdle to the merchant.
sa-DEEN o-STAH va-tim-KOR va-cha-GOR na-TE-na la-k'-na-a-NEE
כדסָדִ֣ין עָ֭שְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּ֑ר וַ֝חֲג֗וֹר נָתְנָ֥ה לַֽכְּנַעֲנִֽי׃
25She is clothed with strength and splendor; She looks to the future cheerfully.
OZ-v'-ha-DAr l'-bu-SHAH, va-tis-KHAK l'-YOM a-KHA-roN
כהעֹז־וְהָדָ֥ר לְבוּשָׁ֑הּ וַ֝תִּשְׂחַ֗ק לְי֣וֹם אַחֲרֽוֹן׃
26Her mouth is full of wisdom, Her tongue with kindly teaching.
PI-ha PA-to-KHA ve-KHO-kh'-MAH, ve-TO-rat KHE-sed al le-sho-NAH.
כופִּ֭יהָ פָּתְחָ֣ה בְחׇכְמָ֑ה וְת֥וֹרַת חֶ֝֗סֶד עַל־לְשׁוֹנָֽהּ׃
27She oversees the activities of her household And never eats the bread of idleness.
TZO-fee-YAH (hi-LAKHOT) [ha-lee-KHOT] BEI-tah v'-LE-khem atz-LOOT lo to-KHEL
כזצ֭וֹפִיָּה (הילכת) [הֲלִיכ֣וֹת] בֵּיתָ֑הּ וְלֶ֥חֶם עַ֝צְל֗וּת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵֽל׃
28Her children declare her happy; Her husband praises her,
KA-mu va-NE-ha va-ye-a-sh'-RU-ha ba-a-LA va-ye-HAL-la-ha
כחקָ֣מוּ בָ֭נֶיהָ וַֽיְאַשְּׁר֑וּהָ בַּ֝עְלָ֗הּ וַֽיְהַלְלָֽהּ׃
29“Many women have done well, But you surpass them all.”
ra-VOT ba-NOT a-SU kha-YIL, v'-AT al-IT al-ku-LA-NAH
כטרַבּ֣וֹת בָּ֭נוֹת עָ֣שׂוּ חָ֑יִל וְ֝אַ֗תְּ עָלִ֥ית עַל־כֻּלָּֽנָה׃
30Grace is deceptive, Beauty is illusory; It is for her fear of Hashem That a woman is to be praised.
SHE-ker ha-KHEN v'-he-VEL ha-yo-FEE, i-SHA yir-at-a-do-NAI, hi tit-ha-LAL
לשֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭חֵן וְהֶ֣בֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי אִשָּׁ֥ה יִרְאַת־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה הִ֣יא תִתְהַלָּֽל׃
31Extol her for the fruit of her hand, And let her works praise her in the gates.
te-nu-LAH mi-p'-ri ya-DE-ha, vi-hal-LU-ha va-sh'-a-RIM ma-a-SE-ha
לאתְּנוּ־לָ֭הּ מִפְּרִ֣י יָדֶ֑יהָ וִיהַלְל֖וּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִ֣ים מַֽעֲשֶֽׂיהָ׃
