HolyStudy
Home
Bible
Read BibleTopicsReading Plans
Worship
Worship of the DayDaily PrayersSaint of the DayChurch Calendar
Tradition
EncyclopediaChurch FathersSaintsCouncilsCreedsHeresies
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
HolyStudy
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
Sign in
HolyStudy

Read the Scriptures and pray with the mind of the Church.

Bible

  • Read Bible
  • Topics
  • Reading Plans

Worship

  • Worship of the Day
  • Daily Prayers
  • Saint of the Day
  • Church Calendar

Tradition

  • Encyclopedia
  • Church Fathers
  • Saints
  • Councils
  • Creeds
  • Heresies

More

  • Reflections
  • Mission
  • Support HolyStudy
  • Contact
  • Connection Map ↗
© 2026 HolyStudy
PrivacyTerms
HolyStudy
Home
Bible
Read BibleTopicsReading Plans
Worship
Worship of the DayDaily PrayersSaint of the DayChurch Calendar
Tradition
EncyclopediaChurch FathersSaintsCouncilsCreedsHeresies
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
HolyStudy
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
Sign in
Law
History
Poetry & Wisdom
Major Prophets
Minor Prophets

Proverbs 31

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?

Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,

lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;

let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

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

She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

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

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

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

She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

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

Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

← Previous chapterNext chapter →

Proverbs 31

Chapter 31 concludes the book with two sections: the words of King Lemuel taught to him by his mother, emphasizing the dangers of excess, the importance of justice for the vulnerable, and the role of the righteous ruler; and an extended acrostic poem celebrating the capable wife. The first section warns the king against wine and strong drink that might cloud his judgment in administering justice, and exhorts him to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, to judge the afflicted and destitute with righteousness. The second and more elaborate section presents a portrait of the capable wife (Hebrew: eshet chayil), who is more precious than jewels, in whom her husband trusts, and who brings him good all the days of her life. The wife of chapter 31 is depicted as industrious—rising while still dark to provide food for her household, working with her hands, trading, and managing a household's complex economics—and as dignified, kind, and wise in speech. Memorable images include her hands clothed with strength, her arms strengthened for her tasks; her lamp burning through the night; the flowing fabric that she works and sells; and her children and husband rising up to call her blessed. The portrait culminates with the assertion that many women have done excellently but she surpasses them all, and that charm is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman who fears the LORD deserves praise. Chapter 31 completes the book by showing how Proverbian wisdom extends to the highest levels of governance and family management, presenting the capable wife as embodying all the virtues—diligence, prudence, generosity, piety, and domestic stewardship—that the book has celebrated throughout.

Proverbs 31:1

Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings—a warning against sexual excess and association with corrupting women, establishing restraint in desire. The theological significance involves the principle of wisdom in managing passions.

Proverbs 31:2

It is not for kings, O Lemuel—not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer—a warning against drunkenness in leadership, establishing that impaired judgment in power is catastrophic. The theological significance involves the principle of the necessity of clarity in authority.

Proverbs 31:3

Lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights—a statement of the consequence of drunken leadership: the poor lose access to justice. The theological significance involves the principle of leadership's responsibility to the vulnerable.

Proverbs 31:4

Let beer be for the perishing, wine for those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more—an acknowledgment that alcohol can serve a purpose for those in legitimate suffering, establishing discrimination in its use. The theological significance involves the principle of the legitimate uses of substances.

Proverbs 31:5

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy—an exhortation to the ruler to advocate for the voiceless, establishing this as the core responsibility of power. The theological significance involves the principle of justice as the fundamental duty of authority.

Proverbs 31:6

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies—the opening of the acrostic poem celebrating the capable woman, establishing her supreme value. The theological significance involves the principle of the preciousness of wise, virtuous partnership.

Proverbs 31:7

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value—a statement of the security and completeness that a capable wife brings to a husband. The theological significance involves the principle of marital partnership as foundational to flourishing.

Proverbs 31:8

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life—a declaration of the wife's commitment to the good of her husband, establishing faithfulness and virtue. The theological significance involves the principle of the covenantal nature of marriage.

Proverbs 31:9

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands—a description of the capable woman's diligence in material production, establishing industry. The theological significance involves the principle of the dignity of domestic labor.

Proverbs 31:10

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar—a comparison of the capable woman to a merchant who ranges far for goods, establishing her resourcefulness. The theological significance involves the principle of economic wisdom.

Proverbs 31:11

She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants—a description of the capable woman's early rising and provision, establishing her care and generosity. The theological significance involves the principle of the servant-leader mindset.

Proverbs 31:12

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard—a statement of the capable woman's business acumen and investment, establishing economic independence. The theological significance involves the principle of wisdom in financial management.

Proverbs 31:13

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks—a description of the capable woman's strength and energy, establishing the physical dimension of her capability. The theological significance involves the principle of the body as instrument of virtue.

Proverbs 31:14

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night—a statement of the capable woman's profitable business and diligent work, establishing the combination of enterprise and persistence. The theological significance involves the principle of virtue rewarded with success.

Proverbs 31:15

In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers—a description of the capable woman's work in textile production, establishing her participation in traditional craft. The theological significance involves the principle of dignity in traditional work.

Proverbs 31:16

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy—a statement of the capable woman's generosity despite her own labor, establishing that virtue includes compassion. The theological significance involves the principle of generosity as intrinsic to virtue.

Proverbs 31:17

When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet—a statement of the capable woman's provision ensuring family security and even comfort, establishing her care as protective. The theological significance involves the principle of provision as expression of love.

Proverbs 31:18

She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple—a description of the capable woman's comfort and refinement, establishing that virtue includes the ability to enjoy beauty. The theological significance involves the principle of the legitimacy of aesthetic pleasure.

Proverbs 31:19

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land—a statement of the capable woman's effect on her husband's standing, establishing that her virtue enhances his reputation. The theological significance involves the principle of mutual benefit in marriage.

Proverbs 31:20

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes—a description of the capable woman's business expansion, establishing that she is both producer and vendor. The theological significance involves the principle of economic initiative.

Proverbs 31:21

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come—a statement of the capable woman's confidence and resilience, establishing that virtue produces psychological security. The theological significance involves the principle of the peace that flows from integrity.

Proverbs 31:22

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue—a statement of the capable woman's wise speech, establishing that knowledge accompanies her activity. The theological significance involves the principle of the integration of word and deed.

Proverbs 31:23

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness—a statement of the capable woman's vigilance and diligence, establishing that her effectiveness comes through attention. The theological significance involves the principle of the necessity of active care.

Proverbs 31:24

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her—a culmination describing the capable woman's recognition and honor from both children and husband, establishing the relational fruit of her virtue. The theological significance involves the principle of blessing flowing from faithfulness.

Proverbs 31:25

'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised—the climax establishing that while many women do well, the woman who fears the LORD excels all, establishing fear of God as the source and crown of virtue. The theological significance involves the principle that reverence is the root of all excellence.

Proverbs 31:26

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue—the woman of valor opens her mouth with wisdom and kindness, establishing that her excellence extends to moral and intellectual formation through truthful, life-giving speech.

Proverbs 31:27

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness—vigilant management of domestic operations reflects her character and contrasts sharply with idleness, establishing the woman of valor as active agent in family prosperity.

Proverbs 31:28

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her—the proverb establishes the woman of valor's legacy as received honor from those within her sphere, with both children and spouse testifying to her worth through spontaneous blessing.

Proverbs 31:29

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all—the woman of valor's exceptional character is acknowledged, yet she is positioned among competitors, suggesting that while her distinction is real, it represents the highest manifestation of virtues accessible to all.

Proverbs 31:30

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised—the proverb establishes that physical attractiveness and charisma lack enduring value, redirecting praise to the woman whose excellence flows from reverence toward God.

Proverbs 31:31

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate—the woman of valor's labors produce public recognition, with the city gate as the site of communal acknowledgment and her virtue vindicated through social esteem.