Proverbs 31:10-31

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 ^{[a] 1}An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than ²jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

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

13 She ³seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

15 She ⁴rises while it is yet night and ⁵provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She ⁶dresses herself^[b] with strength and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She ⁷opens her hand to ⁸the poor and reaches out her hands to ⁹the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in ¹⁰scarlet. ^[c]

22 She makes ¹¹bed coverings for herself; her clothing is ¹²fine linen and ¹³purple.

23 Her husband is known in ¹⁴the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes ¹⁵linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 ¹⁶Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with 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 bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many ¹⁷women have done ¹⁸excellently, but you surpass them all. ”

30 ¹⁹Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31 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.

Cross References

• 1. 31:10 ch. 12:4; Ruth 3:11; [ch. 18:22; 19:14]
• 2. 31:10 Job 28:18
• 3. 31:13 [ver. 21, 22, 24]
• 4. 31:15 [ch. 20:13]
• 5. 31:15 Luke 12:42; [Ps. 111:5]
• 6. 31:17 [ver. 25]
• 7. 31:20 [Rom. 12:13; Eph. 4:28]
• 8. 31:20 [ver. 9]
• 9. 31:20 [ver. 9]
• 10. 31:21 2 Sam. 1:24
• 11. 31:22 ch. 7:16
• 12. 31:22 Gen. 41:42; Rev. 19:8, 14
• 13. 31:22 Judg. 8:26
• 14. 31:23 See Ruth 4:1, 2
• 15. 31:24 Judg. 14:12; Isa. 3:23
• 16. 31:25 [ver. 17]
• 17. 31:29 Song 6:9
• 18. 31:29 [ver. 10]
• 19. 31:30 [ch. 11:16]

Footnotes

• [a] 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
• [b] 31:17 Hebrew 'She girds her loins'
• [c] 31:21 Or 'in double thickness'