Proverbs Chapter 31

Updated: September 14, 2025

The Words of King Lemuel

1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtues of Noble Woman

10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12She will do 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.

15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, 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 coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Sayings for King Lemuel

1 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul:

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

8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

The Virtues of a Noble Woman

10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.

15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.

17 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.

19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.

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

22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

The Sayings for King Lemuel
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 What shall I say, a O my son?
What, O son of my womb?
What, O son of my vows?
3 Do not spend your strength on women
or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing,
and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice,
for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtues of a Noble Woman
10 A wife b of noble character, who can find?
She is far more precious than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good and not harm
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is still night
to provide food for her household
and portions for her maidservants.
16 She appraises a field and buys it;
from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself c with strength
and shows that her arms are strong.
18 She sees that her gain is good,
and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household,
for they are all clothed in scarlet. d
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the city gate,
where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband praises her as well:
29 “Many daughters have done noble things,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her at the gates.

Footnotes:

2 a Or What  or What are you doing
10 b Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
17 c Hebrew She girds her loins
21 d Or doubly clothed

The Words of King Lemuel

1Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

4Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

5Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

The Virtues of Noble Woman

10A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies is her price.

11The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh with her hands.

14She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

15Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

16She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

18She hath perceived when her merchandise is good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

21She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple are her clothing.

23Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

24Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

25Strength and honour are her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

26Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness is on her tongue.

27She is watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

28Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

29Many are the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

30The grace is false, and the beauty is vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

31Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!

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The F.O.G Commentary

The Woman Who Makes Fear Look Foolish

What’s Proverbs 31 about?

This isn’t just ancient marriage advice or a Pinterest-worthy list of impossible standards. Proverbs 31 is a celebration of human dignity, wisdom in action, and what it looks like when someone lives with both strength and grace. It’s about character that changes everything around it.

The Full Context

Proverbs 31 opens with something unique in biblical wisdom literature – a mother’s direct instruction to her son, King Lemuel. We don’t know exactly who Lemuel was (some traditions suggest it’s another name for Solomon), but we do know his mother wasn’t messing around. She’s giving her royal son the ultimate guide to recognizing true worth in a partner and, more broadly, in any person. This wasn’t casual parenting advice; this was statecraft wrapped in wisdom.

The famous “Woman of Valor” poem that dominates the chapter (Proverbs 31:10-31) functions as both the climax of the entire book of Proverbs and a literary masterpiece in its own right. Written as an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew – each verse beginning with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet – this poem was designed to be memorable, teachable, and comprehensive. It’s not describing one perfect woman but painting a portrait of wisdom personified, showing what it looks like when godly character meets real-world living.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew phrase eshet chayil – “woman of valor” or “woman of worth” – appears in verse 10, and it’s much stronger than our English translations suggest. The word chayil is the same term used for mighty warriors in battle. We’re not talking about someone who’s merely nice or capable; we’re talking about someone with the kind of strength that changes the game entirely.

Grammar Geeks

The Hebrew word chayil appears over 240 times in the Old Testament, and it’s usually translated as “army,” “strength,” or “mighty warrior.” When applied to this woman, it suggests someone with the strategic mind of a general and the moral courage of a hero.

When verse 25 says “strength and dignity are her clothing,” the Hebrew word for strength (oz) is the same word used to describe God’s mighty power. This isn’t physical strength we’re talking about – it’s the kind of inner fortitude that doesn’t bend under pressure and doesn’t compromise when it would be easier to do so.

The poem also uses economic language throughout that would have been startling to ancient audiences. This woman “considers a field and buys it” (verse 16) – the verb suggests careful evaluation, like a merchant examining goods. She’s not asking permission; she’s making executive decisions based on wisdom and foresight.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

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In ancient Near Eastern culture, this poem would have been revolutionary. While women in Israel had more rights and dignity than in surrounding cultures, the level of agency and authority described here was remarkable. This wasn’t a culture where women typically owned businesses, made major purchases, or spoke with authority in the city gates.

Did You Know?

Archaeological evidence from ancient Israel shows that while women could own property and engage in business, it was relatively uncommon. The woman described in Proverbs 31 would have been exceptional for her economic independence and decision-making authority.

But here’s what’s brilliant – the poem doesn’t present this as rebellion against social order. Instead, it shows how wisdom and character naturally lead to influence and impact. Her husband “is known in the gates” (verse 23) not in spite of her strength, but because of it. Her children “rise up and call her blessed” (verse 28) because they’ve experienced the security and wisdom of strong leadership.

The original audience would have heard this as a description of what happens when fear of the Lord is lived out practically. This isn’t about gender roles as much as it’s about what godly wisdom looks like when it puts on work clothes and gets busy.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s where things get interesting – and where many modern readers struggle. Is this describing one woman, or is it a composite picture? Are these literal activities, or symbolic descriptions of wisdom’s work?

The alphabetic structure suggests we’re looking at a comprehensive portrait rather than a job description for one person. Just like Psalm 119 uses the alphabet to explore every aspect of loving God’s law, Proverbs 31 uses it to explore every dimension of wisdom lived out.

Wait, That’s Strange…

The woman works with wool and flax, trades from afar, makes and sells garments, buys real estate, plants vineyards, and provides food for her household – all while rising before dawn and working late into the night. That’s not one person; that’s an entire economy!

But here’s what makes this beautiful rather than overwhelming: it’s showing us that wisdom doesn’t have limits. When godly character meets practical skill, amazing things happen. The point isn’t that every woman should do all these things, but that wisdom applied consistently transforms everything it touches.

The poem also challenges our tendency to separate “spiritual” and “practical” life. This woman fears the Lord (verse 30), but that fear shows up in how she manages her household, treats her workers, prepares for the future, and speaks with authority. Her spirituality isn’t separate from her competence – it’s the source of it.

How This Changes Everything

What if we stopped reading Proverbs 31 as a performance standard and started seeing it as a vision of human flourishing? What if this isn’t about being perfect, but about what becomes possible when wisdom guides our decisions?

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” – this isn’t dismissing beauty or charm, but pointing to what actually lasts and what actually changes the world.

The woman of valor doesn’t fear the future because she’s prepared for it (verse 25). She doesn’t worry about her family because she’s invested in their wellbeing. She doesn’t need to be anxious about her reputation because her character speaks for itself. This is what security actually looks like – not perfect circumstances, but wisdom applied consistently over time.

And notice how her strength serves others. She “opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (verse 20). Her success creates opportunities for others. Her wisdom benefits her community. This isn’t self-focused achievement; it’s strength that lifts everyone around it.

The poem ends with a call to “give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates” (verse 31). In other words, let the results speak. Don’t just praise her character – recognize what that character has accomplished. Honor wisdom not just for being wise, but for what wisdom builds.

Key Takeaway

True strength doesn’t announce itself – it just changes everything around it. The woman of valor shows us what happens when godly character meets practical skill and long-term thinking. It’s not about perfection; it’s about wisdom lived out consistently, creating security, opportunity, and blessing for everyone within reach.

Proverbs Chapter 31

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