Proverbs — Chapter 31

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1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Abrahamic Catechism
Bible Study
Proverbs — Chapter 31
✦ Talmud

• Berakhot 31b records that Hannah's prayer was the source for the requirement to pray silently, moving only the lips — the Sages teach that Eishet Chayil (Proverbs 31:10-31) describes not only the ideal wife but the Torah herself: the "woman of valor" is the Torah who "rises while it is still night" (night = this world of concealment) and prepares provisions (mitzvot and wisdom) for the Tzaddik's household before the Sitra Achra's dawn offensive.

• Shabbat 119a records the famous custom of reciting Eishet Chayil on Erev Shabbat, with the tradition that the "woman of valor" is the Shabbat Queen herself — the Sitra Achra's campaign against sacred time (Shabbat) is the deepest level of its anti-Torah warfare, because the Shabbat is the vessel that contains and distributes all wisdom gained during the week; Proverbs 31 is the warrior's tribute to the very vessel the enemy most desires to breach.

• Zohar Bereishit 49b (and supported by Niddah 31b on the Shekhinah as the source of the feminine soul-root) identifies Eishet Chayil with the Shekhinah (divine Presence) itself: "She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy" is the Shekhinah's continuous sustaining operation in the lower worlds — the divine feminine counter-campaign against the Sitra Achra's poverty-and-despair operation.

• Taanis 31a records that the daughters of Jerusalem would circle and say "young man, lift up your eyes and see what you choose for yourself" — Proverbs 31:25 "strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come" is the eschatological laughter of the Shekhinah-Tzaddeket who has already seen the end of the Sitra Achra's empire: her laughter is not frivolity but the battle-calm of a warrior who knows the final field report.

• Yevamot 63b records that a man who finds a good wife has found a good thing and obtained favor from the Lord — the Talmudic triple identification of Eishet Chayil as Torah / Shabbat / righteous soul culminates in Proverbs 31:30 "charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised": in spiritual warfare terms this is the final de-briefing on the Sitra Achra's entire aesthetic arsenal — charm and beauty are its operational cover, and fear of the Lord is the de-encryption key that reveals the enemy's illusory facade.

◆ Quran

• **Luqman's Wisdom for His Family** — Surah 31:14-19 contains Luqman's comprehensive counsel to his son covering gratitude to parents, humility, prayer, patience, and modesty in speech. While not about a wife, this parallels the Proverbs 31 portrait of wisdom embodied in daily family life. Both texts present the household as the primary arena where wisdom operates.