Proverbs 31:1  “The words of King Lemuel…”
More debate on exactly who this is or is referring to.  No clue from the text.  But something God wanted included.

1  “…which his mother taught him”
Importance of godly mothers.  Some say the Bible oppresses and denigrates women.  How clueless.  More like the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

2  “…son of my vows”
Child of my commitment to my husband.  Blessing of children.  Children were designed to come only from the commitment between a man and woman.  How we have messed that up.

3  “Do not give your strength to women…”
Don’t allow sexual pleasure to rule your life.  Interesting that here is another warning about this particular issue, the issue that brought down Solomon.  If this is from someone other than Solomon, it shows you don’t have to be the wisest man on earth to understand the truth.

5  “Lest they drink and forget the law…”
Importance of a clear head to dispense justice.

6  “Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.”
Proper use of alcohol.  Medicinal in nature.

8  “Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.”
Am I my brother’s keeper.  Strong advocate for speaking out for the unborn.  Not the occasion of this verse, but the principle is the same.

10-31  The virtuous wife.

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.”
King James Version.  Sounds so much better in the poetic verse.  Seems to exalt the importance of what’s said.

10  “…a virtuous woman…”
A real one.  One who knows what she is in the eyes of God, why she was created.

10  “…her price is far above rubies”
Untold worth.

11  “…doth safely trust in her…he shall have no need of spoil”
What most women don’t see.  Everything a man demands or requires from a woman points to this, how much he can trust her.  She was designed to be the receptacle for him, to receive all his feelings, concerns, dreams, frustrations.  Not to fix any of them, but to allow him to express them.  He can’t do that unless he trusts her.  If a man can do that with his woman, he doesn’t need anything extra.  I like the use of the word spoil by the KJV.  Spoil you got as extra after winning the battle over the enemy.  With a woman you can trust, you don’t need anything extra after the victory.  You already have all the icing you’ll ever need.

12  “She will do him good…”
Always looking to help and support and provide for the needs she can supply.  Not withholding to get her way or for manipulation, but providing out of love for him.  Breaks my heart to see men and women who have been so blessed as to be brought together only to waste it on selfish attitudes.  What I wouldn’t give.

13  “…willingly works with her hands”
Industrious.  Takes care of business.

15  “…provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants”
Not only takes care of her household, but is a good manager of it.

16  “She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.”
Woman of intelligence and business sense.

20  “She extends her hand to the poor…”
Shows concern for those outside her home.

21  “She is not afraid of snow for her household…”
Knows she has taken care of them.  They’re set.

23  “Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.”
Wow.  Everything in this.  Behind every great man is a greater woman.  Not positional, but supporting.  If only women knew the power they have, what they’ve been given by God.  Even the most ugly, unworthy, unseemly, foolish pauper of a man can become a dignified, confident prince with the love and support of a truly Godly woman.

24  “She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.”
Does other work besides her home management.

26  “She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.”
A blessing to others.

27  “She watches over the ways of her household…”
Priority of purpose.

28-29  “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:  “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.””
Her legacy and influence.  Husbands would do well to praise their wives this way.  No one compares to you.

30  “…a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised”
True measure of success.  Not what she has accomplished by the world’s standards, but her position and relationship with God.

31  “…let her own works praise her in the gates”
The legacy left behind from her relationships.  Far better with lasting value than any earthly prize that will eventually be surpassed, forgotten, and destroyed.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.