Proverbs 31
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
ProverbsChapter 31 of 3131 versesBerean Standard Bible
If God speaks to you through Proverbs 31, record what He said in Doxa and come back to it.
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Read next
How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Cross-references for Proverbs 31
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.”
“Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.”
“A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.”
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
“but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.”
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.
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If God speaks to you through Proverbs 31
Doxa is where you record what God has said to you, in the words it came in, weigh it against Scripture with people you trust, and come back to it in the years that follow.
