What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
PROVERBS • CHAPTER 31
Proverbs 31
Practical wisdom, speech, work, money, sexuality, family, justice, self-control, leadership, and fear of Yahweh.
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Proverbs 31
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1
The words of king Lemuel; the revelation which his mother taught him.
2
“Oh, my son!
Oh, son of my womb!
Oh, son of my vows!
Oh, son of my womb!
Oh, son of my vows!
3
Don’t give your strength to women,
nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4
It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
it is not for kings to drink wine,
nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5
lest they drink, and forget the law,
and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,
and wine to the bitter in soul.
and wine to the bitter in soul.
7
Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
and remember his misery no more.
8
Open your mouth for the mute,
in the cause of all who are left desolate.
in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10
Who can find a worthy woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
For her price is far above rubies.
11
The heart of her husband trusts in her.
He shall have no lack of gain.
He shall have no lack of gain.
12
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
all the days of her life.
13
She seeks wool and flax,
and works eagerly with her hands.
and works eagerly with her hands.
14
She is like the merchant ships.
She brings her bread from afar.
She brings her bread from afar.
15
She rises also while it is yet night,
gives food to her household,
and portions for her servant girls.
gives food to her household,
and portions for her servant girls.
16
She considers a field, and buys it.
With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17
She arms her waist with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
and makes her arms strong.
18
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19
She lays her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
and her hands hold the spindle.
20
She opens her arms to the poor;
yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household;
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23
Her husband is respected in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25
Strength and dignity are her clothing.
She laughs at the time to come.
She laughs at the time to come.
26
She opens her mouth with wisdom.
Kind instruction is on her tongue.
Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
Her husband also praises her:
29
“Many women do noble things,
but you excel them all.”
but you excel them all.”
30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31
Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates!
Let her works praise her in the gates!
WISDOM
Where this chapter fits
Proverbs belongs to Israel's wisdom/poetic tradition, where literary form matters as much as historical setting.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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