World English Bible
- The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
- “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
- Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
- It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
- lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
- Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
- Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
- Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
- Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
- Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
- The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
- She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
- She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
- She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
- She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
- She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
- She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
- She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
- She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
- She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
- She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
- She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
- Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
- She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
- Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
- She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
- She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
- Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
- “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
- Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
- Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
Proverbs ends where it began: with a woman teaching wisdom. King Lemuel receives instruction from his mother, and the book concludes with the ’esheth chayil—often translated “worthy woman,” but more literally, “woman of strength” or “woman of valor.” The same Hebrew word, chayil, describes warriors, wealth, courage, and capability. Ruth receives this title in Ruth 3:11. This is not a portrait of polite fragility, but of holy strength.
There is a deliberate contrast within the chapter. Lemuel is warned not to “give” his strength to destructive appetites; the woman of valor directs her strength toward creating life. One strength dissolves through self-indulgence; the other becomes bread, clothing, commerce, hospitality, justice, and praise. Wisdom is not merely knowing what is right. It is power placed in the service of love.
Verses 10–31 form an acrostic: each verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from aleph to tav. The poet is presenting faithfulness from A to Z—not giving every woman an impossible daily checklist. Her lamp burning at night and her rising before dawn form a poetic picture of sustained care, not a divine command to neglect sleep.
This woman is also far more economically active than many Western readers expect. She evaluates land, purchases a field, plants a vineyard, manufactures textiles, and trades with merchants. Archaeologists frequently discover spindle whorls at ancient Israelite sites, reminders that textile production was a major household industry, not a decorative hobby. Her home is a place of production, stewardship, and shared provision.
Yet her true greatness appears in a striking verbal echo. Lemuel is told to open his mouth for those who cannot speak; she “opens her mouth with wisdom,” and compassionate instruction is on her tongue. The Hebrew phrase translated “kind instruction” is torat chesed—the “law of covenant love.” God’s law has moved from stone into speech, habit, and mercy.
Her hands hold the spindle, but they also reach toward the poor. Biblical wisdom never separates industry from generosity. Prosperity that closes the hand is merely organized folly.
Throughout Proverbs, Wisdom has appeared as a woman calling in the streets. Here, at the book’s conclusion, she has put on work clothes. She is no longer only speaking at the city gate; her works speak for her there. The fear of the Lord has become embodied in ordinary faithfulness.
This points beyond one exemplary woman. In Christ, “the wisdom of God” took flesh and entered daily human life (1 Corinthians 1:24). By his Spirit, the whole church—women and men—is being formed into a people of valor: sober in appetite, courageous in justice, diligent in vocation, generous toward the poor, and unafraid of the future.
Suggested cross-references: Ruth 3:11; Proverbs
3:13–18; Micah 6:8; 1 Corinthians 1:24–30; Titus 2:11–14.
Suggested hymn: “Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go” by
Charles Wesley.
Lord of wisdom, rescue our strength from wasted desires. Clothe us with courage and dignity, open our mouths for the voiceless, and make our daily work an offering of covenant love. Let the fruit of our hands praise you in every gate. Amen.