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Proverbs 31

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Proverbs 31 Overview

King Lemuel records his mother's warnings against sexual dissipation and impaired judgment from drink, commands defense of the poor, then closes with an alphabetic portrait of a capable, industrious, generous, God-fearing wife whose works praise her.

ProverbsBook

31Chapter

31Verses

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Before you read Proverbs 31

Coming from

Proverbs 30 emphasized agur's humble sayings about god's pure word and observable wisdom. Because many proverbs are individual sayings rather than a continuous argument, the chapter-to-chapter connection is thematic rather than narrative.

In this chapter

Leads into

Proverbs 31 closes with royal instruction and the virtuous woman whose fear of the LORD gives substance to her praise. Ecclesiastes follows by examining life’s apparent vanities and asking what endures under God’s rule.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The virtuous woman poem celebrates character, diligence, wisdom, and fear of the LORD; it is not a checklist by which every woman must perform every listed economic task in identical form. Proverbs uses compact wisdom sayings to train judgment. Its normal patterns describe how God’s moral order ordinarily works; they are not mechanical guarantees that remove human freedom, suffering, or providence.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

A king's duties and the portrait of a virtuous woman.

Wisdom truth

In Proverbs 31, wisdom is moral skill under the fear of the LORD, not merely intelligence or practical cleverness.

Kingship truth

In Proverbs 31, rulers are accountable to God and are wise only when they use authority for justice rather than appetite or pride.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Titus 2:3-5

The New Testament also honors godly wisdom, family faithfulness, and good works in women without reproducing every cultural task in identical form.

Wisdom connection

James 1:5 says those who lack wisdom should ask God, who gives generously. This connection helps frame Proverbs 31.

Kingship connection

Romans 13:1-4 explains civil authority as accountable service under God. This connection helps frame Proverbs 31.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not read Proverbs 31 as a set of magic formulas. Proverbs trains wise judgment in the ordinary moral order God established.

Keep kingship in context

Royal sayings in Proverbs 31 describe ideals and responsibilities of rulers; they do not teach that every ruler actually behaves wisely.

Read Proverbs 31 watching for…

Lemuel mother.

wine and judgment.

plead poor.

virtuous woman.

fear LORD praised.

Chapter outline2 sections

1-9King Lemuel receives his mother’s counsel about women, strong drink, and defending the needy 10-31The virtuous woman is trustworthy, diligent, generous, wise, God-fearing, and worthy of praise

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

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Proverbs 31:11

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