Proverbs 31 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Unknown, possibly pre-exilic (before 586 BC)
Location
Possibly outside Israel — Lemuel may have been from the Arabian region of Massa
Audience
Kings, leaders, and the broader Israelite community
Situation
Proverbs 31 contains two distinct sections: the instruction of King Lemuel's mother (vv.1-9) and the acrostic poem celebrating the 'woman of valor' (vv.10-31).
Key Background
Like Agur in chapter 30, King Lemuel is likely a non-Israelite ruler, possibly from the Arabian region of Massa. His mother's advice against wine and women reflects universal concerns of royal instruction across the ancient Near East. The 'woman of valor' poem (eshet chayil) is an alphabetic acrostic — each verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet — celebrating a woman of strength, business acumen, generosity, and wisdom. The Hebrew 'chayil' means strength, valor, and capability (the same word used for warriors), making this a portrait of formidable competence, not domestic passivity. This poem is traditionally recited by Jewish husbands to their wives on Friday evenings before the Sabbath meal.
The words of — a his mother taught him:
What can I say, my What can I say, of my womb? What can I say, of my
Don't give your to women, or your energy to those who
It's not for kings, Lemuel — it's not for kings to drink and it's not for rulers to crave
Otherwise they'll drink and forget been and the of all who are suffering.
Give beer to and wine to those whose lives are bitter.
Let them drink and forget their poverty, and stop thinking about their misery.
up for those who for — for the rights of all who are
Speak up, and defend the rights of the and those in need.
A — who can find one? She's worth far more than
Her husband her completely, and he never lacks of
She brings him and not harm every day of her life.
She finds wool and linen and with
She's like the — she brings her food from far away.
She gets up while it's still dark and provides food for her household, with set aside for her
She a field and buys it; from own she plants a vineyard.
She in and makes her arms powerful.
She is — go out at
She puts her hands to the and her fingers grip the
She to the and reaches out arms to those in
She's not afraid of the for her household, because everyone in her home is dressed in
She makes her own her clothing is and
Her husband is well-known at the where he sits among the
She makes and sells them; she supplies belts to the
and are what she wears, and she at the to
She speaks with and is on her tongue.
She over her household and never eats the of
children stand up and husband does the same and praises
"Many women have done but you surpass them all."
is deceptive and but a woman who — she will be praised.
Give the she has and for at the