Proverbs 31

A mother's teaching to her son the king: don't waste your strength, don't let drink cloud justice, and "open your mouth for those with no voice." Then an acrostic poem about a woman of valor. She's strong, works with "eager hands," does business and buys fields, gives to the poor, and isn't afraid for the future; she "can laugh at the days to come." It's not a checklist to measure women against. Proverbs ends where it began (1:7), with the fear of the LORD, now embodied in a whole, joyful, generous life.

"Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come." (Proverbs 31:25)

"Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed." (Proverbs 31:8)

Versions/Hebrew: 31:26 "faithful instruction is on her tongue" is torat chesed [8451, 2617], "the law of kindness" (KJV) or "teaching of covenant love." Proverbs closes with chesed on a person's lips. "Woman of noble character" in 31:10 is eshet chayil, a woman of strength or valor, the same chayil used of warriors.