Proverbs 31

The Oracle of King Lemuel

1 The words of Lemuel, [the] king--an oracle that his mother taught him:

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

3 Do not give your strength to the women, and your ways to destroy kings.

4 [It is] not for the kings, O Lemuel; drinking wine [is] not for the kings, nor [is] strong drink for rulers.

5 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed, and he will pervert the rights of all the {afflicted}.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those {in bitter distress}.

7 He will drink and forget his poverty, and his misery he will not remember [any] more.

8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the {needy}.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness, and defend [the] poor and needy.

10 A woman of excellence, who will find? For her worth [is] far more than precious jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and gain he will not lack.

12 She does him good, but not harm all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, and she works with the diligence of {her hands}.

14 She is like the ships of a merchant; from far off she brings her food;

15 And she arises while [it is] still night, and gives food to her household, and tasks to her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it, from the fruit of {her hand} she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise [is] good; her lamp does not go out in the night.

19 Her hands she puts onto the distaff, and her palms hold a spindle.

20 Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches [out] to the needy.

21 She does not fear for her house [when] it snows, for {her entire household} is clothed [in] crimson.

22 She makes for herself coverings; her clothing [is] fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known at the gates, in his seat among the elders of the land.

24 Linen garments she makes and sells, and she supplies sashes for the merchants.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs {at the future}.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness [is] upon her tongue.

27 She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat.

28 Her children rise and consider her happy, her husband [also], and he praises her;

29 "Many daughters have done excellence, but {you surpass} all of them."

30 Charm [is] deceit and beauty [is] vain; [but] a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.

31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand, and may they praise her works in the city gates.

Proverbs 31 Commentary

Chapter 31

An exhortation to king Lemuel to take heed of sin, and to do duties. (1-9) The description of a virtuous woman. (10-31)

Verses 1-9 When children are under the mother's eye, she has an opportunity of fashioning their minds aright. Those who are grown up, should often call to mind the good teaching they received when children. The many awful instances of promising characters who have been ruined by vile women, and love of wine, should warn every one to avoid these evils. Wine is to be used for want or medicine. Every creature of God is good, and wine, though abused, has its use. By the same rule, due praise and consolation should be used as cordials to the dejected and tempted, not administered to the confident and self-sufficient. All in authority should be more carefully temperate even than other men; and should be protectors of those who are unable or afraid to plead their own cause. Our blessed Lord did not decline the bitterest dregs of the cup of sorrow put into his hands; but he puts the cup of consolation into the hands of his people, and causes those to rejoice who are in the deepest distress.

Verses 10-31 This is the description of a virtuous woman of those days, but the general outlines equally suit every age and nation. She is very careful to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection, to know his mind, and is willing that he rule over her. 1. She can be trusted, and he will leave such a wife to manage for him. He is happy in her. And she makes it her constant business to do him good. 2. She is one that takes pains in her duties, and takes pleasure in them. She is careful to fill up time, that none be lost. She rises early. She applies herself to the business proper for her, to women's business. She does what she does, with all her power, and trifles not. 3. She makes what she does turn to good account by prudent management. Many undo themselves by buying, without considering whether they can afford it. She provides well for her house. She lays up for hereafter. 4. She looks well to the ways of her household, that she may oblige all to do their duty to God and one another, as well as to her. 5. She is intent upon giving as upon getting, and does it freely and cheerfully. 6. She is discreet and obliging; every word she says, shows she governs herself by the rules of wisdom. She not only takes prudent measures herself, but gives prudent advice to others. The law of love and kindness is written in the heart, and shows itself in the tongue. Her heart is full of another world, even when her hands are most busy about this world. 7. Above all, she fears the Lord. Beauty recommends none to God, nor is it any proof of wisdom and goodness, but it has deceived many a man who made his choice of a wife by it. But the fear of God reigning in the heart, is the beauty of the soul; it lasts for ever. 8. She has firmness to bear up under crosses and disappointments. She shall reflect with comfort when she comes to be old, that she was not idle or useless when young. She shall rejoice in a world to come. She is a great blessing to her relations. If the fruit be good, the tree must have our good word. But she leaves it to her own works to praise her. Every one ought to desire this honour that cometh from God; and according to this standard we all ought to regulate our judgments. This description let all women daily study, who desire to be truly beloved and respected, useful and honourable. This passage is to be applied to individuals, but may it not also be applied to the church of God, which is described as a virtuous spouse? God by his grace has formed from among sinful men a church of true believers, to possess all the excellences here described.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "right"
• [b]. Literally "sons of affliction"
• [c]. Literally "to bitterness of soul"
• [d]. Hebrew "right"
• [e]. Literally "the sons of the needy"
• [f]. Or "wife"
• [g]. Or "strength," or "valor," or "ability," or "efficiency"
• [h]. Or "lord"
• [i]. Literally "her palms"
• [j]. Or "bread"
• [k]. Literally "her palm"
• [l]. A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning
• [m]. Literally "all her house, household"
• [n]. Or "lord"
• [o]. Literally "to the day/time coming after"
• [p]. Or "lord"
• [q]. Or "strength," or "valor," or "ability," or "efficiency"
• [r]. Literally "you ascend over"
• [s]. Hebrew "The charm"
• [t]. Hebrew "the beauty"
• [u]. Or "vapor," or "emptiness," or "breath"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 31

This chapter contains the last part of the book of Proverbs; which some reckon the fifth, others the sixth. It contains the instructions of the mother of a prince, whose name was Lemuel, which she gave unto him; and which are so valuable, as to be annexed to the proverbs of Solomon. The preface or introduction to them is in Pr 31:1; the address to her son, Pr 31:2. The vices she cautions him against are uncleanness and intemperance; which she dissuades from, because of the pernicious consequences of both to kings and to their subjects, Pr 31:3-5. Advises rather to give wine and strong drink to poor people, such as are in distress; as being more useful to them, at least less prejudicial, Pr 31:6,7; and exhorts her son to the duties of his office; by pleading the cause of the poor and injured, and administering justice to them, Pr 31:8,9. And then at large describes a virtuous woman; perhaps designed as an instruction to her son in the choice of a wife, Pr 31:10-31; though more than that may be intended by it.