Proverbs 31 is the last chapter of Proverbs. Verses 1 to 9 are the words of King Lemuel's mother, teaching her son to avoid wine and to "plead the cause of the poor and needy." Verses 10 to 31 are a poem about the virtuous woman, which begins, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." She is strong, hardworking, generous and wise, and the poem ends with its key line: "a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."
Proverbs 31 is read at Mother's Day services, women's retreats, weddings and funerals. Many women love it, and some find it intimidating, because the woman it describes seems to do everything. It helps to know what kind of writing it is. Verses 10 to 31 form an acrostic poem: in Hebrew, each verse begins with the next letter of the alphabet, from aleph to tav. It is a portrait of wisdom lived out in an ordinary household, not a to-do list for one day. Many Bible teachers also note that Proverbs begins with wisdom pictured as a woman calling in the streets (Proverbs 1:20) and ends with a real woman whose life shows what wisdom looks like. Below is the full text of Proverbs 31 in the King James Version, in twelve short readings, with a note on each. For more verses for women, see Bible verses about a strong woman, Bible verses for wives and Bible verses about mothers.
Proverbs 31:1-9 (KJV): the words of King Lemuel's mother
1. Proverbs 31:1-3
"The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings."
The chapter opens with The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. We do not know who Lemuel was; some Jewish tradition identified him with Solomon, but the Bible does not say. What matters is that the wisdom comes from his mother. She speaks with deep affection, calling him the son of my vows, a child she had prayed for and dedicated to God. Her first warning: Give not thy strength unto women, do not waste your life on passing desire.
2. Proverbs 31:4-7
"It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more."
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine. A ruler who drinks may forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Leaders need a clear head, because their choices affect the weak. The mother then says strong drink belongs to the dying and the bitter of soul, a sad, realistic picture of how people numb pain. Her point is not a lesson on medicine. It is that a king must stay sober to serve his people. See Bible verses about alcohol addiction.
3. Proverbs 31:8-9
"Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy."
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. The dumb here means those who cannot speak up for themselves. Lemuel's mother tells her son to use his voice and power for them: judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Her advice to a king ends with justice for the vulnerable. It is a fitting doorway into the poem that follows, about a woman whose strength also reaches the poor.
Proverbs 31:10-25 (KJV): who can find a virtuous woman?
4. Proverbs 31:10-12
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."
The poem begins, Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Virtuous translates a Hebrew word that means strength, worth or valor; it is used of mighty warriors elsewhere. Ruth is the only woman the Bible calls by this word by name (Ruth 3:11). Her husband trusts her completely, and She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. The poem starts with her character, not her achievements.
5. Proverbs 31:13-16
"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."
She is busy and skilled: She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She shops wisely, like the merchants' ships, rises while it is yet night to feed her household and the servant girls, and considereth a field, and buyeth it. She plants a vineyard with money she earned. In the ancient world this describes a capable woman running a large household economy. The picture is of work done willingly, not grudgingly.
6. Proverbs 31:17-19
"She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff."
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. To gird the loins was to tuck up a long robe for hard work. She is physically strong and ready. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: she knows the value of what she makes. Her candle goeth not out by night means her household always has light and supplies, not that she never sleeps. She works the spindle and distaff, the tools for spinning thread.
7. Proverbs 31:20-22
"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple."
The hands that hold the spindle also reach out: She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Her success is not only for herself. Because she planned ahead, She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet, warm, good clothing. She dresses well herself, in silk and purple. The poem sees no conflict between providing well for her family and giving generously to others.
8. Proverbs 31:23-25
"Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come."
Her husband is known in the gates, where the elders sat to judge and do business. Part of his good reputation comes from her. She makes linen and sells it to the merchant. Then comes one of the best-known lines: Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Rejoice can also mean laugh: she can smile at the future, because she has prepared for it and trusts God with it.
Proverbs 31:26-31 (KJV): a woman that feareth the LORD
9. Proverbs 31:26-27
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Her words are both wise and kind, a rare and beautiful combination. The law of kindness can mean teaching that is full of loyal love. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. She watches over her home with care. Her strength shows in her speech as much as in her work. See Bible verses about kindness.
10. Proverbs 31:28-29
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. The people who know her best honor her most. Her husband says, Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. It is the kind of blessing many families speak over mothers and grandmothers on Mother's Day and at memorials. The praise comes from the people she served at home, not from crowds.
11. Proverbs 31:30
"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."
Here is the key to the whole poem: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Favour here means charm. Charm can deceive and beauty fades, but reverence for God lasts. All the skill and strength in verses 10 to 29 flow from this root. The book of Proverbs began with The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7), and it ends with a woman who lives it.
12. Proverbs 31:31
"Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
The last verse: Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. The gates were the public square, the place where her husband sat with the elders. Her life deserves public honor, and her works speak for her. This verse is often read at funerals for faithful women. Her legacy is not one big achievement but a lifetime of quiet, strong, generous faithfulness. See Bible verses about legacy.
A short prayer
Lord, thank You for the strong, faithful women You have placed in my life. Give me a heart that fears You above all, hands that work willingly, and a mouth that speaks with wisdom and kindness. When I compare myself and feel I fall short, remind me that this poem is a picture of wisdom, not a weight to carry alone, and that my worth is found in You. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
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Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Proverbs 31?
Proverbs 31:1 says these are "The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him." The Bible does not tell us who Lemuel was. Some Jewish tradition identified him with Solomon, but most scholars think he was a non-Israelite king or are unsure. Either way, the chapter preserves a mother's wisdom. Many scholars think the acrostic poem in verses 10 to 31 may be a separate piece placed after her words.
What does virtuous woman mean in Proverbs 31?
The Hebrew phrase is eshet chayil, a woman of strength, worth or valor. The word chayil is used of mighty soldiers and capable people elsewhere in the Old Testament. In the KJV it is translated virtuous, which in 1611 English carried the sense of strength and excellence as well as moral goodness. Ruth is called a virtuous woman in Ruth 3:11.
Is the Proverbs 31 woman a real person?
The poem describes an ideal, and its acrostic form suggests a carefully crafted portrait rather than a biography of one woman. Many Bible teachers see her as wisdom lived out in daily life, the counterpart of Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 1 to 9. Real women such as Ruth reflect her character. She is meant to inspire men and women alike, not to be a checklist.
What is the most important verse in Proverbs 31?
Many readers consider verse 30 the key: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." It explains the source of everything else in the poem. Her strength, generosity and wisdom grow from reverence for God. Verse 10, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies," is the best-known opening line.
Mother's Day 2027 is Sunday, May 9.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Strong woman · Wives · Mothers · Mother's Day · Women · Daughters · Working hard · Fear of the Lord
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