A Mother's Advice to a King
Study note
King Lemuel is not identified elsewhere in the Bible. His mother gives him three pieces of advice: do not waste your strength on women, do not drink wine because it will cloud your judgment, and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Rulers must defend the poor and needy.
1 These are the words of King Lemuel, the wise lesson his mother taught him. The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 She said: "Listen to me, my son! You are the child I prayed for! Pay attention! What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Do not hand your energy over to women, or your strength to those who have brought down kings. Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 Lemuel, kings should not drink wine, and rulers have no business craving alcohol. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 If they drink, they will forget the laws they are supposed to uphold and will fail to protect the rights of the oppressed. Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Save the strong drink for people in terrible pain, and give wine to those whose lives are full of misery. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let them drink so they can forget how hard life is and stop thinking about their suffering. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Use your voice for the voiceless. Stand up for the rights of everyone who is defenseless. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open your mouth and judge with fairness. Make sure the poor and the needy get the justice they deserve." Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtuous Woman
Study note
This famous acrostic poem describes an ideal woman of noble character. In Hebrew, each of the 22 verses (10-31) begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. She is hardworking, wise, generous to the poor, a shrewd businesswoman, and a loving mother and wife. She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future. The poem closes with the powerful declaration that charm is deceptive and beauty fades, but a woman who fears the Lord deserves the highest praise.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 Her husband trusts her without question, and because of her, he lacks nothing important. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 Every day of her life, she brings good into his world, never harm. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She gathers wool and flax. She throws herself into her work with energy and eagerness. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She goes to great lengths to find the best provisions for her family, like merchant ships sailing in from distant ports. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She is up before dawn, preparing meals for her household and organizing the work for her helpers. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She evaluates a piece of land, decides to buy it, and uses money she earned herself to plant a vineyard. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She rolls up her sleeves for hard work and puts her full strength into everything she does. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She can see that her efforts are paying off, and she keeps working late into the evening. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She grabs the spindle and skillfully works the thread with her own hands. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She is always reaching out to help people who are poor and opening her arms to those who are in need. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She has no reason to worry about cold weather, because she has ensured her whole family is dressed warmly. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes beautiful bed coverings. She dresses herself in fine linen and rich purple fabric. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 People know and respect her husband at the city gate, where he sits with the other leaders. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She creates linen clothing and sells it, and she provides fine belts to the local merchants. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honor are what she wears, and she faces the future with a smile, without a trace of fear. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 Every time she opens her mouth, wisdom comes out. Her advice is always kind and trustworthy. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She keeps a close eye on everything happening in her home and never wastes a single moment. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and say, "Mom, you are amazing!" Her husband showers her with praise too, saying: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 "Many women have done great things, but you outshine every one of them." Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her credit for everything she has done. Let what she has achieved speak for itself in the most public places. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.