Proverbs 31:1-9

1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.

2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?

3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.

4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.

6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:

7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.

8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.

9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

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.