Proverbios 31

Dichos del rey Lemuel

1 Los dichos del rey Lemuel. Oráculo mediante el cual^[a] su madre lo instruyó:

2 «¿Qué pasa, hijo mío?¿Qué pasa, hijo de mis entrañas?¿Qué pasa, fruto de mis votos^[b] al SEÑOR?

3 No gastes tu vigor en las mujeres,ni tu fuerza^[c] en las que arruinan a los reyes.

4 »No conviene que los reyes, oh Lemuel,no conviene que los reyes se den al vino,ni que los gobernantes se entreguen al licor,

5 no sea que al beber se olviden de lo que la ley ordenay priven de sus derechos a todos los oprimidos.

6 Dales licor a los que están por morir,y vino a los amargados;

7 ¡que beban y se olviden de su pobreza!¡que no vuelvan a acordarse de sus penas!

8 »¡Levanta la voz por los que no tienen voz!¡Defiende los derechos de los desposeídos!

9 ¡Levanta la voz, y hazles justicia!¡Defiende a los pobres y necesitados!»

Epílogo: Acróstico a la mujer ejemplar

10

Álef

10 ^[d]Mujer ejemplar,^[e] ¿dónde se hallará?¡Es más valiosa que las piedras preciosas!

Bet

11 Su esposo confía plenamente en ellay no necesita de ganancias mal habidas.

Guímel

12 Ella le es fuente de bien, no de mal,todos los días de su vida.

Dálet

13 Anda en busca de lana y de lino,y gustosa trabaja con sus manos.

He

14 Es como los barcos mercantes,que traen de muy lejos su alimento.

Vav

15 Se levanta de madrugada,da de comer^[f] a su familiay asigna tareas a sus criadas.

Zayin

16 Calcula el valor de un campo y lo compra;con sus ganancias^[g] planta un viñedo.

Jet

17 Decidida se ciñe la cintura^[h]y se apresta para el trabajo.

Tet

18 Se complace en la prosperidad de sus negocios,y no se apaga su lámpara en la noche.

Yod

19 Con una mano sostiene el husoy con la otra tuerce el hilo.

Caf

20 Tiende la mano al pobre,y con ella sostiene al necesitado.

Lámed

21 Si nieva, no tiene que preocuparse de su familia,pues todos están bien abrigados.

Mem

22 Las colchas las cose ella misma,y se viste de púrpura y lino fino.

Nun

23 Su esposo es respetado en la comunidad;^[i]ocupa un puesto entre las autoridades del lugar.

Sámej

24 Confecciona ropa de lino y la vende;provee cinturones a los comerciantes.

Ayin

25 Se reviste de fuerza y dignidad,y afronta segura el porvenir.

Pe

26 Cuando habla, lo hace con sabiduría;cuando instruye, lo hace con amor.

Tsade

27 Está atenta a la marcha de su hogar,y el pan que come no es fruto del ocio.

Qof

28 Sus hijos se levantan y la felicitan;también su esposo la alaba:

Resh

29 «Muchas mujeres han realizado proezas,pero tú las superas a todas».

Shin

30 Engañoso es el encanto y pasajera la belleza;la mujer que teme al SEÑOR es digna de alabanza.

Tav

31 ¡Sean reconocidos^[j] sus logros,y públicamente^[k] alabadas sus obras!

Proverbios 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]. "Lemuel. Oráculo mediante el cual" . Alt. "Lemuel de Masa, mediante los cuales" .
• [b]. "fruto de mis votos" . Alt. "respuesta a mis oraciones" .
• [c]. "tu fuerza" . Lit. "tus caminos" .
• [d]. 31:10Los vv. 10-31 son un acróstico, en que cada verso comienza con una de las letras del alfabeto hebreo.
• [e]. "ejemplar" . Alt. "fuerte" .
• [f]. "da de comer" . Lit. "da presa" .
• [g]. "sus ganancias" . Lit. "el fruto de sus manos" .
• [h]. "se ciñe la cintura" . Lit. "se ciñe con fuerza sus lomos" .
• [i]. "en la comunidad" . Lit. "en las puertas" .
• [j]. "Sean reconocidos" . Alt. "Denle" .
• [k]. "públicamente" . Lit. "en las puertas" .

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.