Proverbs 31
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- בֵּןbênH11216× in this chapter
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
- לֹאlôʼH38086× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- כֹּלkôlH36055× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- נָתַןnâthanH54145× in this chapter
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
- בַּיִתbayithH10044× in this chapter
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
- כַּףkaphH37094× in this chapter
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power
- מֶלֶךְmelekH44284× in this chapter
a king
- עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62134× in this chapter
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
- בַּעַלbaʻalH11673× in this chapter
a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)
- הָלַלhâlalH19843× in this chapter
to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify
- חַיִלchayilH24283× in this chapter
probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
- יָדyâdH30273× in this chapter
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
- אַלʼalH4083× in this chapter
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
- מָהmâhH41003× in this chapter
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
- פֶּהpehH63103× in this chapter
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
- פָּתַחpâthachH66053× in this chapter
to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
- אִשָּׁהʼishshâhH8023× in this chapter
a woman
- שָׁתָהshâthâhH83543× in this chapter
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
- דִּיןdîynH17792× in this chapter
judgement (the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal); by implication also strife
- טוֹבṭôwbH28962× in this chapter
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
- יוֹםyôwmH31172× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- יַיִןyayinH31962× in this chapter
wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
- אֶבְיוֹןʼebyôwnH342× in this chapter
destitute
- כִּיkîyH35882× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- לְבוּשׁlᵉbûwshH38302× in this chapter
a garment (literally or figuratively); by implication (euphemistically) a wife
- לֶחֶםlechemH38992× in this chapter
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
- לַיִלlayilH39152× in this chapter
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
- לְמוּאֵלLᵉmûwʼêlH39272× in this chapter
Lemuel or Lemoel, a symbolic name of Solomon
- עוֹדʻôwdH57502× in this chapter
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
- עֹזʻôzH57972× in this chapter
strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
- עַלʻalH59212× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- עָנִיʻânîyH60412× in this chapter
depressed, in mind or circumstances
- פְּרִיpᵉrîyH65292× in this chapter
fruit (literally or figuratively)
- קוּםqûwmH69652× in this chapter
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
- שָׁכַחshâkachH79112× in this chapter
to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
- שֵׁכָרshêkârH79412× in this chapter
an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor
- שָׁלַחshâlachH79712× in this chapter
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
- שַׁעַרshaʻarH81792× in this chapter
an opening, i.e. door or gate
- בַּתbathH13231× in this chapter
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
- גָּמַלgâmalH15801× in this chapter
to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e. (specifically) to wean