Proverbs 31:1-9

The Oracle of King Lemuel

1 The words of Lemuel, [the] king--an oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What, my son? And what, my son in my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to the women, and your ways to destroy kings.

4 [It is] not for the kings, O Lemuel; drinking wine [is] not for the kings, nor [is] strong drink for rulers.

5 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed, and he will pervert the rights of all the {afflicted}.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those {in bitter distress}.

7 He will drink and forget his poverty, and his misery he will not remember [any] more.

8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the {needy}.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness, and defend [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] Hebrew "right"
• [b] Literally "sons of affliction"
• [c] Literally "to bitterness of soul"
• [d] Hebrew "right"
• [e] Literally "the sons of the needy"