Proverbs Chapter 31
Proverbs 31 KJV
1. The words of king Lemuel, [a] the prophecy that his mother taught him.
[a] “Lemuel” (לְמוּאֵל), meaning “devoted to God.”
2. What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3. Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. [1] [b]
[1] “Lemuel” is Solomon, although Solomon violated the instructions of this mother (vs. 1) as given in verses 3-4 (1 Kings 11:1-3; Eccl. 2:3).
[b] 1 Kings 11:1-11; Neh. 13:26.
4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5. Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, [c] and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
[c] Matt. 27:34.
7. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. [d]
[d] Prov. 24:11-12 (see note on Prov. 24:10).
9. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10. ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? [2] for her price is far above rubies. [e]
[2] There are twelve kinds of women in Proverbs: “a fair woman” (Prov. 11:22), “a gracious woman” (Prov. 11:16), “a whorish woman” (Prov. 6:26), “an odious woman” (Prov. 30:23), “an adulterous woman” (Prov. 30:20), “a brawling woman” (Prov. 21:9), a “strange woman” (Prov. 2:16), an “evil woman” (Prov. 6:24), “a contentious and an angry woman” (Prov. 21:19), “a foolish woman” (Prov. 9:13), a “wise woman” (Prov. 14:1), and the “virtuous woman” (Prov. 12:4).
[e] Job 28:18.
11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19. She layeth her hands to the spindle, [f] and her hands hold the distaff.
[f] A tool to twist plant fibers into thread.
20. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. [3]
[3] For a full study of verses 10-30, get the following sermons from the Bible Baptist Bookstore: “The Great Woman,” “The Parting of the Ways,” “God’s Woman,” “Mary, the Mother of Jesus,” “Rizpah on the Rocks,” “The Motherhood of God,” and “Motherhood in the Bible.”
31. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
>>>>>>> Additional Notes <<<<<<<
Note on Prov. 24:10 KJV
10. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.* 11. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12. If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
* Verses 10-12 deal with one of the most serious problems in the Body of Christ in America since 1933: the absolute refusal of American Christians to witness and tell unsaved adults they’re going to Hell when they die, although they know they will. They were commanded to witness (Prov. 31:8; Acts 1:8), and to warn people that they could die in their sins and wind up in the Lake of Fire (Ezek. 18:20-24; Acts 20:26-27). Ninety-five percent of them will not do it, and about 85% of the preachers will not do it. They do not want to risk being ridiculed or losing their social status or “image” among their friends and neighbors.
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