The chat will start when you send the first message.
1King Lemuel’s royal words of wisdom:[#31:1 Jewish legend is that King Lemuel was a pseudonym for Solomon, which would make his mother mentioned here to be Bathsheba. There is no other mention of Lemuel in the Scriptures. The Hebrew word translated “inspired words” is massa , which some have surmised was a place, meaning “Lemuel, King of Massa.”]
These are the inspired words my mother taught me.
2Listen, my dear son, son of my womb.
You are the answer to my prayers, my son.
3So keep yourself sexually pure
from the promiscuous, wayward woman.
Don’t waste the strength of your anointing
on those who ruin kings—
you’ll live to regret it!
4For you are a king, Lemuel,
and it’s never fitting for a king to be drunk on wine
or for rulers to crave alcohol.
5For when they drink they forget justice
and ignore the rights of those in need,
those who depend on them for leadership .
6-7Strong drink is given to the terminally ill,
who are suffering at the brink of death.
Wine is for those in depression
in order to drown their sorrows.
Let them drink and forget their poverty and misery.
8But you are to be a king who speaks up on behalf
of the disenfranchised
and pleads for the legal rights of the defenseless
and those who are dying.
9Be a righteous king, judging on behalf of the poor
and interceding for those most in need.
10Who could ever find a wife like this one —[#31:10 Starting with verse 10 through the end of the book, we have a Hebrew acrostic poem. It is alphabetical in structure, with each of the twenty-two verses beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The implication is that the perfections of this woman would exhaust the entire language. The subject is the perfect bride, the virtuous woman. This woman is both a picture of a virtuous wife and an incredible allegory of the end-time victorious bride of Jesus Christ, full of virtue and grace.]
she is a woman of strength and mighty valor!
She’s full of wealth and wisdom.
The price paid for her was greater than many jewels.
11Her husband has entrusted his heart to her,[#31:11 Or “has great confidence in her.”]
for she brings him the rich spoils of victory.
12All throughout her life she brings him what is good and not evil.[#31:12 The virtuous bride will not bring disgrace to his name. Jesus will not be ashamed to display her to the world.]
13She searches out continually to possess
that which is pure and righteous.
She delights in the work of her hands.
14She gives out revelation-truth to feed others.[#31:14 Or “bread.” This is a consistent emblem of spiritual food.]
She is like a trading ship bringing divine supplies
from the merchant.
15Even in the night season she arises and sets food on the table[#31:15 She is interceding in the night, laboring in a night season to help others.; #31:15 The Hebrew word translated “arise” can also mean “to rise up in power.” We are told to “rise up in splendor and be radiant, for your light has dawned” in Isa. 60:1, which uses the same Hebrew word for “arise.” The bride of Christ will arise with anointing to feed and bless the people of God.]
for hungry ones in her house and for others.
16She sets her heart upon a field and takes it as her own.[#31:16 Or “a land” or “a country.”]
She labors there to plant the living vines.
17She wraps herself in strength, might, and power in all her works.[#31:17 Or “She girds her loins with strength and makes her shoulders strong.” This is a figure of speech for being anointed with power to do the works of Jesus. See John 14:12.]
18She tastes and experiences a better substance,[#31:18 Or “good merchandise.”]
and her shining light will not be extinguished,
no matter how dark the night.
19She stretches out her hands to help the needy[#31:19 As translated from the Septuagint. The Hebrew uses a term for “distaff” (a weaver’s staff), which is taken from a root word for “prosperity.” The poetic nuance of this phrase is that she uses her prosperity to bless the needy.]
and she lays hold of the wheels of government.
20She is known by her extravagant generosity to the poor,
for she always reaches out her hands to those in need.
21She is not afraid of tribulation,[#31:21 Or “snow.” This is a figure of speech for the fear of a cold winter season.]
for all her household is covered in the dual garments
of righteousness and grace.
22Her clothing is beautifully knit together —[#31:22 This clothing speaks of the ministries of the body of Christ, woven and knit together by the Holy Spirit. See Eph. 4:15–16 and Col. 2:2.]
a purple gown of exquisite linen.
23Her husband is famous and admired by all,
sitting as the venerable judge of his people.
24Even her works of righteousness[#31:24 Or “linen.” See the second footnote for v. 13 regarding linen as a symbol for righteousness.]
she does for the benefit of her enemies.
25Bold power and glorious majesty are wrapped around her[#31:25 Or “Beauty, honor, and excellence.”]
as she laughs with joy over the latter days.
26Her teachings are filled with wisdom and kindness
as loving instruction pours from her lips.
27She watches over the ways of her household[#31:27 Or “She is a watchman over her house [family].”]
and meets every need they have.
28Her sons and daughters arise in one accord to extol her virtues,[#31:28 The Hebrew word translated “arise” can also mean “to rise up with power.” The Septuagint is “She raises her children so they will grow rich.”; #31:28 Or “Hooray, hooray for our mother!”]
and her husband arises to speak of her in glowing terms.
29“There are many valiant and noble ones,[#31:29 Or “Many daughters have obtained wealth because of her.” These valiant and noble ones (daughters) represent the church of previous generations who remained faithful in their pursuit of Jesus. But this final generation will be the bridal company of the lovers of God who do mighty exploits and miracles on the earth.]
but you have ascended above them all!”
30Charm can be misleading,
and beauty is vain and so quickly fades,
but this virtuous woman lives in the wonder, awe,
and fear of the Lord.
She will be praised throughout eternity .
31So go ahead and give her the credit that is due,
for she has become a radiant woman,
and all her loving works of righteousness deserve to be admired
at the gateways of every city!