The sayings of King Lemuel
31
These are the sayings of King Lemuel. His mother taught them to him. These sayings came from God. 2 Listen, my son! Listen, my very own son!
Listen, you who are the answer to my prayers!
3 Don't waste your strength on women.
Don't waste it on those who destroy kings.
4 Lemuel, it isn't good for kings to drink wine.
It isn't good for rulers to long for beer.
5 If they do, they might drink and forget what has been commanded.
They might take away the rights of all those who are treated badly.
6 Let beer be for those who are dying.
Let wine be for those who are sad and troubled.
7 Let them drink and forget how poor they are.
Let them forget their suffering.
8 Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves.
Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.
9 Speak up and judge fairly.
Speak up for the rights of those who are poor and needy.
31:1–9 In this section of the book of Proverbs, a mother speaks to her son. It isn't known who King Lemuel was but his mother's wisdom was from God. Some of her advice was like the father's advice in Proverbs chapters 1 to 9. She warned Lemuel about sexual sins. Most of her advice was about how to rule wisely as king. Her advice agreed with God's rules for kings in Deuteronomy 17:17–20. This included not having many wives. It included remembering what had been commanded. In Israel, this was the Law of Moses. Forgetting it led kings to treat others badly. Instead, Lemuel was to protect and help poor and needy people. This is described as speaking up for people who can't speak up for themselves. As a leader, Lemuel had more authority than other people. He was to use this authority to take care of others and to be fair.
The excellent woman
10 Who can find an excellent woman?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband trusts her completely.
She gives him all the important things he needs.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She chooses wool and flax.
She loves to work with her hands.
14 She is like the ships of traders.
She brings her food from far away.
15 She gets up while it is still night.
She provides food for her family.
She also gives some to her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it.
She uses some of the money she earns to plant a vineyard.
17 She gets ready to work hard.
Her arms are strong.
18 She sees that her trading earns a lot of money.
Her lamp doesn't go out at night.
19 With one hand she holds the wool.
With the other she spins the thread.
20 She opens her arms to those who are poor.
She reaches out her hands to those who are needy.
21 When it snows, she's not afraid for her family.
All of them are dressed in the finest clothes.
22 She makes her own bed coverings.
She is dressed in fine linen and purple clothes.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate.
There he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes and sells them.
She supplies belts to the traders.
25 She puts on strength and honour as if they were her clothes.
She can laugh at the days that are coming.
26 She speaks wisely.
She teaches faithfully.
27 She watches over family matters.
She is busy all the time.
28 Her children stand up and call her blessed.
Her husband also rises up, and he praises her.
29 He says, ‘Many women do excellent things.
But you are better than all the others.’
30 Charm can fool you. Beauty fades.
But a woman who has respect for the Lord should be praised.
31 Give her honour for all that her hands have done.
Let everything she has done bring praise to her at the city gate.
31:10–31 The last section of the book of Proverbs is an alphabet poem. It describes someone who has listened to wisdom as described in Proverbs 8:6. This person has learnt the lessons taught throughout the book of Proverbs. This person has put these lessons into practice in every part of their life. Earlier poems in Proverbs describe wisdom like a woman. This poem describes this wise person like an excellent woman. This person is like a woman who is strong and smart. She takes care of everything and everyone that she is responsible for. She gives freely to those who need help. She makes careful plans and works very hard. She is bold and isn't worried about the future. The members of her family and her city trust her. It's clear to everyone by the way she lives that she has respect for God. This leads people to honour her. She isn't honoured for being beautiful or having charm. She is honoured because in her heart and in her actions she is wise.