Proverbs

Chapter 31

The Sayings for King Lemuel and The Virtues of a Noble Woman

Proverbs 31 closes the book with a mother's instruction to King Lemuel about righteous rule and with a celebrated portrait of a noble woman whose strength, wisdom, diligence, and fear of the LORD bless her household and community. Together the two sections bring the book's wisdom into public leadership and faithful domestic stewardship.

Within Proverbs, this final chapter gathers the book's themes into embodied examples. Kings are told to protect the vulnerable and judge justly, while the noble woman demonstrates that wisdom is industrious, generous, resilient, and God-fearing in the ordinary fabric of life.

2 sections·226 words·~1 min read

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Proverbs 31

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vv. 1-9

The Sayings for King Lemuel

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T¹hese are the words of King Lemuel — the burden that his mother taught him: ²What shall I say, O my son? ³Do not spend your strength on women ⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, ⁵lest they drink and forget what is decreed,

⁶Give strong drink to one who is perishing, ⁷Let him drink and forget his poverty, ⁸Open your mouth for those with no voice, ⁹Open your mouth, judge righteously,

vv. 10-31

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

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A¹⁰ wife of noble character, who can find? ¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her, ¹²She brings him good and not harm ¹³She selects wool and flax ¹⁴She is like the merchant ships, ¹⁵She rises while it is still night ¹⁶She appraises a field and buys it; ¹⁷She girds herself with strength

¹⁸She sees that her gain is good, ¹⁹She stretches out her hands to the distaff ²⁰She opens her arms to the poor ²¹When it snows, she has no fear for her household, ²²She makes coverings for her bed;

²³Her husband is known at the city gates, ²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them; ²⁵Strength and honor are her clothing, ²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom, ²⁷She watches over the affairs of her household

²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed; ²⁹“Many daughters have done noble things, ³⁰Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, ³¹Give her the fruit of her hands,

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