The Sayings for King Lemuel
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: Pro 6:202Ti 1:5Pro 1:82Ti 3:15Pro 30:1
What shall I say, 1 O my son? Isa 49:151Sa 1:111Sa 1:28
What, O son of my womb?
What, O son of my vows?
Do not spend your strength on women Deu 17:17Neh 13:26Pro 7:26-27Pro 5:9-111Ki 11:1Hos 4:11
or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, Pro 20:1Ecc 10:17Isa 5:22Hos 4:11-121Ki 20:16-20Hab 2:5Dan 5:2-4Est 3:15
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to crave strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, Hab 2:5
depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, 1Ti 5:23Psa 104:151Sa 1:101Sa 30:62Ki 4:27Job 29:13Job 3:20
and wine to the bitter in soul.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, Eph 5:18
and remember his misery no more.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, Psa 82:3-4Pro 24:11-12Est 4:13-16Jer 26:24Jer 38:7-10Job 29:12-17Jer 26:16-19Jhn 7:51
for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Isa 1:17Amo 5:11-12Lev 19:15Deu 1:16Job 29:15-16Jer 22:3Dan 4:27Isa 1:23
and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtues of a Noble Woman
A wife 2of noble character, who can find? Pro 19:14Pro 12:4Pro 18:22Eph 5:25-33Pro 3:15Sng 6:8-9Rut 3:11Ecc 7:28
She is far more precious than rubies.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, 1Pe 3:1-72Ki 4:22-232Ki 4:9-10
and he lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good and not harm 1Sa 25:18-221Sa 25:26-27
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax 1Ti 5:10Tit 2:52Th 3:10-12Act 9:39-40Gen 18:6-8Gen 24:13-14Gen 24:18-20Gen 29:9-10
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, 1Ki 9:26-28Ezk 27:3-36Pro 31:242Ch 9:10
bringing her food from afar.
She rises while it is still night Rom 12:11Luk 12:42Mrk 1:35Pro 20:13Ecc 9:102Ch 36:15Jos 3:1Psa 119:147-148
to provide food for her household
and portions for her maidservants.
She appraises a field and buys it; Mat 13:44Sng 8:12Jos 15:18
from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself 3with strength Job 38:31Pe 1:13Eph 6:101Ki 18:46Eph 6:14Luk 12:352Ki 4:29Isa 44:12
and shows that her arms are strong.
She sees that her gain is good, 1Th 2:9Mat 25:3-102Th 3:7-9Gen 31:40Psa 127:2
and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff Exo 35:25-26
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor Eph 4:28Heb 13:16Pro 19:17Pro 22:9Act 20:34-35Deu 15:11Psa 41:1Rom 12:13
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, Gen 45:222Sa 1:24Pro 25:20
for they are all clothed in scarlet. 4
She makes coverings for her bed; Rev 19:8Gen 41:42Pro 7:161Pe 3:3Est 8:15Ezk 16:10-13Jdg 8:26Psa 45:13-14
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known at the city gate, Pro 12:4Rut 4:1Deu 16:18Deu 21:19Job 29:7Pro 24:7Rut 4:11
where he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them; Ezk 27:16Luk 16:191Ki 10:28Jdg 14:12Pro 31:13Pro 31:19
she delivers sashes to the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing, Job 40:10Rom 13:141Ti 2:10Eph 4:24Isa 61:10Job 29:141Pe 5:5-6Psa 132:9
and she can laugh at the days to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, Eph 4:29Pro 16:24Pro 10:31Pro 12:181Pe 3:4-5Col 4:5Pro 31:8-91Pe 3:8-9
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household 1Ti 5:10Tit 2:42Th 3:6Pro 14:11Th 4:11
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; 2Ti 1:52Ti 3:15-171Ki 2:19Pro 31:1Psa 116:16Isa 62:4-5Sng 7:1-9
her husband praises her as well:
“Many daughters have done noble things, Sng 6:8-9Eph 5:27
but you surpass them all!”
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, Pro 1:71Pe 3:4-5Pro 11:22Pro 8:131Pe 1:241Co 4:5Est 1:11-12Psa 147:11
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands, Psa 128:2Heb 6:10Mat 7:16Rev 14:13Rom 16:1-4Php 4:17Pro 11:30Pro 31:16
and let her works praise her at the gates.