An exhortation to chastity, temperance, and works of mercy; with the praise of a wise woman.

¹ The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:¹

1. 31:1Lamuel: This name signifies God with him, and is supposed to have been one of the names of Solomon.(Challoner)

² “What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?

³ Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.

⁴ Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.

⁵ And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.

⁶ Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.

⁷ Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.

⁸ Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.

⁹ Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.

¹⁰ Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.

¹¹ The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.

¹² She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

¹³ She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.

¹⁴ She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.

¹⁵ And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.

¹⁶ She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.

¹⁷ She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.

¹⁸ She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.

¹⁹ She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.

²⁰ She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.

²¹ She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.

²² She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.

²³ Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.

²⁴ She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.¹²

1. 31:24The word ‘cingulum’ refers to something that encircles or wraps; in this context, it is made of cloth. It could conceivably be anything from a headband to an undergarment.(Conte)
2. 31:24The Chanaanite: The merchant, for Chanaanite, in Hebrew, signifies a merchant.(Challoner)

²⁵ Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.

²⁶ She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.

²⁷ She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.

²⁸ Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.¹

1. 31:28Or, ‘Her sons rose up and proclaimed her most blessed;”(Conte)

²⁹ Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.

³⁰ Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.

The Book of Proverbs

³¹ Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.