THE words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth 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 maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

1The wordes of King Lemuel, the prophecie that his mother taught him.

2What, my sonne! and what, the sonne of my wombe! and what, the sonne of my vowes!

3Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes to that which destroyeth kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drinke wine, nor for Princes, strong drinke:

5Lest they drinke, and forget the Law, and peruert the iudgement of any of the afflicted.

6Giue strong drinke vnto him that is ready to perish, and wine vnto those that be of heauie hearts.

7Let him drinke, and forget his pouertie, and remember his misery no more.

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

9Open thy mouth, iudge righteously, and plead the cause of the poore and needy.

10 Who can finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue Rubies.

11The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, so that he shall haue no need of spoile.

12She will doe him good, and not euill, all the dayes of her life.

13She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14She is like the merchants ships, she bringeth her food from afarre.

15Shee riseth also while it is yet night, and giueth meate to her household, and a portion to her maydens.

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

17She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.

18She perceiueth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night.

19She layeth her handes to the spindle, and her handes hold the distaffe.

20She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, yea she reacheth foorth her handes to the needy.

21She is not afraid of the snow for her houshold: for all her houshold are cloathed with scarlet.

22She maketh herselfe couerings of tapestrie; her cloathing is silke and purple.

23Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth among the Elders of the land.

24She maketh fine linnen, and selleth it, and deliuereth girdles vnto the merchant.

25Strength and honour are her cloathing; and she shall reioyce in time to come.

26She openeth her mouth with wisedome; and in her tongue is the law of kindnesse.

27She looketh well to the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of idlenesse.

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

29Many daughters haue done vertuously, but thou excellest them all.

30Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vaine: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shalbe praised.

31Giue her of the fruit of her hands, and let her owne workes praise her in the gates.

I == Prov 30:1

II == Isa 49:15

 

III == Deut 17:17 ; Neh 13:26 ; Prov 5:9 ; 7:26 ; Hos 4:11

IV == Eccl 10:17

V == Hos 4:11

 

VI == 1st Sam 1:10 ; Ps 104:15

 

 

 

VIII == 1st Sam 19:4 ; Esth 4:16 ; Job 29:15-16

IX == Lev 19:15 ; Deut 1:16 ; Job 29:12 ; Isa 1:17 ; Jer 22:16

X == Prov 12:4 ; 18:22 ; 19:14

 

 

 

 

 

XV == Luke 12:42 ; Rom 12:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XX == Eph 4:28 ; Heb 13:16

 

 

 

 

XXIII == Prov 12:4

 

 

1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa. The advice which his mother gave him:

2 What, my son, my first-born! what, O son of my womb; what, O son of my vows!

3 Give not your vigor to women, nor your strength to those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes!

5 Lest in drinking they forget what the law decrees, and violate the rights of all who are in need.

6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed;

7 When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their burdens.

8 Open your mouth in behalf of the dumb, and for the rights of the destitute;

9 Open your mouth, decree what is just, defend the needy and the poor!

10 When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.

11 Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.

12 She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

13 She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands.

14 Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar.

15 She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household.

16 She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.

18 She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.

20 She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.

21 She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are doubly clothed.

22 She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.

23 Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.

24 She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come.

26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel.

27 She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness.

28 Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:

29 "Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all."

30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.

v 1. Lemuel, beloved of the Lord, probably Solomon or a neighboring prince.

v 2-7 His mother warns against adultery and strong drink, specifically for kings. It was worded as a comparative negative. Don’t do what those others do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 8,9. He should judge fairly, being sure to care for the destitute.

 

 

v 10-31. These are not all characteristics of a specific woman, but a composite of characteristics of a virtuous, noble woman. She is faithful to her husband, a good shopper, very skilled, industrious and business minded. She looks well to her children and is an asset to her husband. In v 30, favor, that is charm and graciousness and beauty were insignificant to her fear of the Lord. She is in stark contrast to adulterous women in earlier Proverbs, and is worthy of private and public praise and honor.
Each of the verses of this section begin with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. I don’t know who to give credit for the following description:
10 A - Aleph - Virtuous, invaluable
11 B - Beth - Trustworthy
12 C - Gimel - Dependable
13 D - Daleth - Homemaker
14 E - Hey - Economical
15 F - Vau - Oblivious to time
16 Z - Zain - Good business sense
17 H - Cheth - Industrious
18 T - Teth - Discerning
19 J - Yod - Conscientious seamstress { J is “ : “ or jot of “Jot or Tittle”)
20 K - Coph - Hospitality
21 L - Lamed - Clothing designs, “scarlet” = double thickness - like thermal underwear
22 M - Mem - Best upholstery, drapes, dress clothes, talented
23 N - Nean - A good helpmeet
24 S - Samech - Spare time sowing for profit
25 O - Ayin - Clothing reflects her spiritual wardrobe
26 P - Pe - Soft spoken kindness and wisdom
27 Ts - Tsaddi - Evaluates her work and household
28 K - Koph - Spiritual example appreciated
29 R - Resh - (v 28) Her husband’s praise (1 Pet. 3:1-6)
30 Sh - Schim - Fear of the Lord is secret of inner beauty
31 T - Tau - Honored by family, friends and God