The big picture
Proverbs 31 opens in verse 1 with “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a…”, and closes in verse 31 with “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” Repeated or prominent terms include hands, drink, household, husband, kings. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 31Proverbs 31:1-8
1–8: The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Proverbs 31:1–8 opens with “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.” and reaches “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community, with particular weight carried by drink, kings, forget.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.” By verse 4, the text has turned to “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong…” It lands on “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 question. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as drink, kings, forget, Lemuel, strong, wine tie the complete block together. The central idea, “A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Give, Lemuel, Lest, Open. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 2: “What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: drink, kings, forget, Lemuel, strong, wine
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 31:1
“The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.” Naming Lemuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:2
“What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Proverbs 31:3
“Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:4
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:” Naming Lemuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:5
“Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” Naming Lest keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:6
“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:7
“Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” The line’s distinctive content terms include drink, forget, misery. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 31:8
“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.” Naming Open keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 31:1-8
King James Version1The 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.
Proverbs 31:9-16
9–16: Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and…
Proverbs 31:9–16 opens with “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” and reaches “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community, with particular weight carried by hands, afar, bringeth.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” By verse 12, the text has turned to “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” It lands on “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 question. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as hands, afar, bringeth, buyeth, cause, considereth tie the complete block together. The central idea, “A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include She, Open. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 10: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: hands, afar, bringeth, buyeth, cause, considereth
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 31:9
“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Naming Open keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:10
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Proverbs 31:11
“The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Proverbs 31:12
“She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:13
“She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:14
“She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:15
“She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:16
“She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 31:9-16
King James Version9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
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.
Proverbs 31:17-24
17–24: She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Proverbs 31:17–24 opens with “She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.” and reaches “She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community, with particular weight carried by hands, household, maketh.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.” By verse 20, the text has turned to “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” It lands on “She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. Its subjects, actions, connecting terms, and consequences reveal how the thought develops before any interpretation is added.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as hands, household, maketh, afraid, arms, candle tie the complete block together. The central idea, “A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include She, Her. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 20: “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: hands, household, maketh, afraid, arms, candle
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 31:17
“She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:18
“She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:19
“She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:20
“She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:21
“She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:22
“She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:23
“Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.” Naming Her keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:24
“She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 31:17-24
King James Version17She 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.
Proverbs 31:25-31
25–31: Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to…
Proverbs 31:25–31 opens with “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” and reaches “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community, with particular weight carried by arise, beauty, blessed.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” By verse 28, the text has turned to “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” It lands on “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 stated contrasts, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as arise, beauty, blessed, bread, call, children tie the complete block together. The central idea, “A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include She, Favour, Give, Her, Many, Strength. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 28: “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: arise, beauty, blessed, bread, call, children
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 31:25
“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Proverbs 31:26
“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:27
“She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:28
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Naming Her keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:29
“Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” Naming Many keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 31:30
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD , she shall be praised.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Proverbs 31:31
“Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 31:25-31
King James Version25Strength 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.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
- Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
- Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Proverbs 31?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Proverbs 31 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: A mother instructing a king to avoid corrupt power and defend those who cannot speak for themselves; A capable woman planning, trading, producing, feeding, giving, teaching, and caring for her household and community?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?