Proverbs 31:1-9

The Sayings for King Lemuel

1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

2 What shall I say, ^[a] O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:1-9 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or What or What are you doing