Proverbs 31:1-9

The Words of Lemuel

1 The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:

2 What, O my son? And what, O ¹son of my womb? And what, O son of my ²vows?

3 ³Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which ⁴destroys kings.

4 It is not for ⁵kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to ⁶drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And ⁷pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is ⁸perishing, And wine to him ⁹whose life is bitter.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more.

8 ¹⁰Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate *.

9 Open your mouth, ¹¹judge righteously, And defend the ¹²rights of the afflicted 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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 49:15
• 2. 1 Samuel 1:11
• 3. Proverbs 5:9
• 4. Deuteronomy 17:17; 1 Kings 11:1; Nehemiah 13:26
• 5. Ecclesiastes 10:17
• 6. Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:22; Hosea 4:11
• 7. Exodus 23:6; Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 17:15
• 8. Job 29:13
• 9. Job 3:20; Isaiah 38:15
• 10. Job 29:12-17; Psalms 82
• 11. Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16
• 12. Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:16

Footnotes

• [a] Or "burden"
• [b] Lit "judgment"
• [c] Lit "sons of affliction"
• [d] Lit "bitter of soul"
• [e] Lit "judgment"
• [f] Lit "sons of passing away"
• [g] Lit "judge the afflicted"