Proverbs 31

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Proverbs 31

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.

Notes

Cross Reference

Concordance

Commentary

Rashi

Chapter 31

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Verse 1

<html>The words of Lemuel the king The words of King Solomon, that he said for the Holy One, blessed be He, because he sinned against the Holy One, blessed be He. Lemuel for God, like (Job 40:4): “to (למו) my mouth.” The words that the king said for the sake of the Holy One, blessed be He. a prophecy that his mother chastised him When he married the daughter of Pharaoh on the day of the dedication of the Temple, she brought in for him many kinds of musical instruments, and he was awake all night and slept on the next day until four hours [after dawn], as is related in Pesikta (unknown, but found in Mid. Mishle and in Num. Rabbah 10:8), and the keys of the Temple were under his head. Regarding that time, we learned (Eduyoth 6:1): “Concerning the daily morning burnt- offering, that it was offered up at [the conclusion of] four hours. Then his mother entered and chastised him with all this prophecy.” a prophecy that his mother chastised him An allegorical prophecy with which his mother chastised him.</html>

Verse 2

<html>What, my son What is this that you have done and told that you are my son, and [you did] not [tell] that you are the son of your father. Everybody knows that your father was completely righteous, and if you are wicked, they will say, “His mother made him that way.” the son of my womb All your father’s wives, as soon as they conceived, would not return for marital relations, but I pushed and entered in order to have a son well-formed and of strong vitality, because marital relations are beneficial during the last six months. and what, the son of my vows? All your father’s wives would vow that they would have a son fit for the throne, but I vowed that I would have a son bright in Torah.</html>

Verse 3

<html>Do not give Do not weaken. your strength to women Heb. חילך, your strength.</html>

Verse 4

<html>It is not for kings, Lemoel This matter is not fit for kings who are for the Holy One, blessed be He. Lemoel is like (Job 40:4): “to (למו) my mouth.” it is not for kings to drink wine It is not proper for them to become intoxicated. neither is strong drink Heb. אי שכר, like אין שכר, there is no strong drink.</html>

Verse 5

<html>what was made law What is written in the Torah—and surely the tradition that is committed to memory.</html>

Verse 6

<html>to the one who is perishing To him who will ultimately perish—to the wicked. to those of bitter soul Who suffer pain because of their poverty and their mourning. To give them pleasure in this world, so that they receive the reward for the precepts they kept, in this world, [leaving them with nothing in the hereafter.]</html>

Verse 8

<html>all whose help has passed Heb. בני חלוף. These are the orphans, whose help has passed and gone away.</html>

Verse 11

<html>and he will lack no gain lit. no plunder, i.e., he will lack no good.</html>

Verse 15

<html>food Heb. טרף. and an allotted share Heb. וחוק. This too is the food that is allotted to them.</html>

Verse 19

<html>onto the distaff Heb. כישור that is called vertel, verteil, vertay in Provencal, which prepares (מכשיר) the spindle to spin. the spindle Heb. פלך, fusele in French.</html>

Verse 21

<html>She fears not for her house hold For those who live in her house. for snow For the cold. are dressed in crimson Colored clothing.</html>

Verse 22

<html>beautiful bedspreads Heb. מרבדים, beautiful spreads for the bed, as in (above 7:16) “I have bedecked my couch with covers (מרבדים רבדתי).”</html>

Verse 23

<html>Her husband is known in the gates He is recognizable among his peers because of his garments, which are beautiful.</html>

Verse 24

<html>to the trafficker Heb. כנעני, a merchant.</html>

Verse 25

<html>at the last day On the day of her death, she departs with a good name. and she laughs all her life about the day of her death, that it should be honored with a good name.</html>

Verse 27

<html>She supervises In her house, she pays attention to all the needs of her household, how they should act with truth and with modesty.</html>

Verse 29

<html>“Many women, etc.” In this way, her husband and children call her fortunate.</html>

Verse 30

<html>Charm is false No one praises a woman of charm or beauty; everything is futility and false, but a God-fearing woman alone is praised.</html>

Verse 31

<html>her deeds The skill of her deeds testifies for her so that all passersby praise her in the gate of the city. This is the figure, as I explained it, but according to the allegory, the chapter is explained as referring to the Torah and those who study it. [10] a woman of valor This is the Torah. who can find Fortunate is he who merits to find it. than pearls Heb. מפנינים, [also referred to as] מרגליות. [11] and he lacks no gain He eats the fruit in this world and in the next [13] She seeks wool and flax Since it [the Torah] is compared to a woman, Scripture speaks according to the figure concerning the requirements for the work of women, and the allegory is as follows: The Torah seeks Scripture, Mishnah and Midrash, and searches for them, as they are the requirements of the students. [14] She is like the merchant ships The Torah brings those who study it blessing and sustenance. [15] She rises when it is still night They rise early in the [morning] watch. she gives food to her household The teacher teaches the pupils the lesson allotted to them. [16] She contemplates a field Heb. זממה. The Torah muzzles Esau, the “man of the field,” with a muzzle and a bridle. and purchases it lit. and takes him from the world to destroy him; from the fruit of her deeds she plants a vineyard Israel, to keep them alive for the fire of the world to come. [18] She advised Its speech. her lamp does not go out at night It is written בליל, with the “hey” missing; on the night of watching (ליל שמורים), when the Egyptians were plagued, it shone for Israel and protected them. [19] onto the distaff Heb. בכישור, through the skill of its deeds. support the spindle Heb. פלך, a support, as in (II Sam. 3:29): “one who leans on a staff (מחזיק בפלך).” [20]She spreads out her hand Whoever makes himself like a poor man on its account—in him it [the Torah] endures. [21] She fears not for her household for snow with which they judge the wicked from fire to snow. dressed in crimson The covenant of the blood of circumcision. Another explanation: They are dressed with the commandments expressed in double language. (Deut. 15:10): “You shall surely give (נתון תתן),” (ibid. verse 8): “you shall surely open (פתוח תפתח),” (ibid. verse 14): “you shall surely furnish him liberally (הענק תעניק).” All these save them from the snow of Gehinnom. So it is expounded in Tanhuma. [24] She makes a cloak It grants a glorious [raiment] to the Sages. and she gives a belt to the trafficker To the one who is girded with its merchandise, she gives a belt for their loins. [25] to the last day They need not grieve over the day of judgment because they will be saved from it, and all the days of their life they will rejoice at the day of judgment. An expression of צחוק, laughter, applies to anyone who need not be concerned, as in (Job 41:21): “and he rejoices at the din of a spear.” [27] She supervises the ways of her household The Torah teaches them the good way, to separate from sin. [28] Her children The pupils. her husband The Holy One, blessed be He. [30] Charm is false [The charm] of the kings of the nations. and…is futile Their greatness and their beauty. [31] Give her in the future. of the fruit of her hands Glory and greatness, strength, beauty and ruling power.</html>

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Table of Contents

Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31

Notes

Cross Reference

Concordance

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 1

Verse 2

Verse 3

Verse 4

Verse 5

Verse 6

Verse 8

Verse 11

Verse 15

Verse 19

Verse 21

Verse 22

Verse 23

Verse 24

Verse 25

Verse 27

Verse 29

Verse 30

Verse 31