CHAPTER 31 Apr. 21 
Make a Case for Justice
The words of king Lemuel; the oracle with which his mother warned him. 2Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows! 3Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’ 5lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted. 6Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul: 7let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.

The Worthy Woman
10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband trusts in her; he shall have no lack of profit. 12She does him good and not harm all the days of her life. 13She seeks wool and flax and works eagerly with her hands. 14She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. 15She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household and portions for her servant girls. 16She considers a field and then buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17She arms her waist with strength and makes her arms strong. 18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night; 19she lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy. 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22She makes for herself carpets of tapestry, her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. 24She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant. 25Strength and dignity are her clothing,  she laughs at the time to come. 26She opens her mouth with wisdom, faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of laziness. 28Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: 29Many women do noble things, but you excel them all! 30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

Commentary

31:1 Lemuel- An equivalent name for Solomon, having a similar meaning to Solomon’s other name, Jedediah (2 Sam. 12:25). This chapter would therefore be the inspired words of his mother Bathsheba.
31:3 Bathsheba was warning Solomon not to make the mistake his father David had, who destroyed his family for the sake of his adultery with Bathsheba. The warning against sinning with women under the influence of alcohol, which would lead the king to forget God’s law, could suggest that David sinned with Bathsheba whilst under the influence of alcohol.
31:8 There are those who whilst not physically mute are relatively voiceless; and we are to be a voice for them, to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
31:15 Portions for her servant girls- The wise woman is great because she serves those who are her servants; we see here the New Testament principle of servant leadership.
31:23 The implication is that the respect given her husband is thanks to her, for the surrounding verses are speaking of what she achieves for her family.