Proverbs 31

The Words of Lemuel

1 The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:
2 What, O my son? And what, O 1son of my womb? And what, O son of my 2vows?
3 3Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which 4destroys kings.
4 It is not for 5kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to 6drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And 7pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is 8perishing, And wine to him 9whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more.
8 10Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate *.
9 Open your mouth, 11judge righteously, And defend the 12rights of the afflicted and needy.

Description of a Worthy Woman

10 An 13excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far 14above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like 15merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.
15 She 16rises also while it is still night And 17gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings * she plants a vineyard.
17 She 18girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She 19extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are 20clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes 21coverings for herself; Her clothing is 22fine linen and 23purple.
23 Her husband is known 24in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes 25linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and 26dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future *.
26 She 27opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the 28bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who 29fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

Images for Proverbs 31

Cross References 29

  • 1. Isaiah 49:15
  • 2. 1 Samuel 1:11
  • 3. Proverbs 5:9
  • 4. Deuteronomy 17:17; 1 Kings 11:1; Nehemiah 13:26
  • 5. Ecclesiastes 10:17
  • 6. Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:22; Hosea 4:11
  • 7. Exodus 23:6; Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 17:15
  • 8. Job 29:13
  • 9. Job 3:20; Isaiah 38:15
  • 10. Job 29:12-17; Psalms 82
  • 11. Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16
  • 12. Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:16
  • 13. Ruth 3:11; Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 19:14
  • 14. Job 28:18; Proverbs 8:11
  • 15. Ezekiel 27:25
  • 16. Proverbs 20:13; Romans 12:11
  • 17. Luke 12:42
  • 18. 1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 4:29; Job 38:3
  • 19. Deuteronomy 15:11; Job 31:16-20; Proverbs 22:9; Romans 12:13; Ephesians 4:28
  • 20. 2 Samuel 1:24
  • 21. Proverbs 7:16
  • 22. Genesis 41:42; Revelation 19:8, 14
  • 23. Judges 8:26; Luke 16:19
  • 24. Deuteronomy 16:18; Ruth 4:1, 11
  • 25. Judges 14:12
  • 26. 1 Timothy 2:9, 10
  • 27. Proverbs 10:31
  • 28. Proverbs 19:15
  • 29. Psalms 112:1; Proverbs 22:4

Footnotes 20

Proverbs 31 Commentaries

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