An exhortation to chastity, temperance, and works of mercy; with the
praise of a wise woman.
31:1. The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother
instructed him.
Lamuel.... This name signifies God with him, and is supposed to have
been one of the names of Solomon.
31:2. What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the
beloved of my vows?
31:3. Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
31:4. Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because
there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
31:5. And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause
of the children of the poor.
31:6. Give strong drink to them that are sad; and wine to them that are
grieved in mind:
31:7. Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow
no more.
31:8. Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the
children that pass.
31:9. Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the
needy and poor.
31:10. Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost
coasts is the price of her.
31:11. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no
need of spoils.
31:12. She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life.
31:13. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel
of her hands.
31:14. She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from
afar.
31:15. And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her
household, and victuals to her maidens.
31:16. She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of
her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
31:17. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened
her arm.
31:18. She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp
shall not be put out in the night.
31:19. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have
taken hold of the spindle.
31:20. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her
hands to the poor.
31:21. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all
her domestics are clothed with double garments.
31:22. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and
purple, is her covering.
31:23. Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among
the senators of the land.
31:24. She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the
Chanaanite.
The Chanaanite.... The merchant, for Chanaanite, in Hebrew, signifies a
merchant.
31:25. Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the
latter day.
31:26. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is
on her tongue.
31:27. She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not
eaten her bread idle.
31:28. Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and
he praised her.
31:29. Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast
surpassed them all.
31:30. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth
the Lord, she shall be praised.
31:31. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her
in the gates.