Proverbs 31:1-14

1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2 `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.

11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.

14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

Proverbs 31:1-14 Meaning and Commentary

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.