Proverbs 31 DBY
Summary: This final chapter opens with the words King Lemuel's mother taught him, warning him against giving his strength to women or his taste to wine and strong drink, and urging him instead to "open your mouth for the mute" and "judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy" (v. 8-9). The remainder of the chapter is the acrostic poem praising "an excellent wife," whose worth is "far above jewels" (v. 10) — she rises while it is still night, works skillfully with wool and flax, buys a field and plants a vineyard from her own earnings, clothes her household in fine garments, speaks with wisdom, and is praised by her husband and children at the city gates. The book closes with its final verdict on outward appeal: "charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" (v. 30).
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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