Proverbs 31
Proverbs 31 closes the book with the portrait of the virtuous woman — industrious, wise, generous, strong, and God-fearing. A celebration of character over charm and beauty.
The Book of Proverbs · Old Testament · chapter 31 of 31.
Where this chapter sits
Instruction attributed to King Lemuel's mother opens the closing chapter, covering kings, strong drink, and justice for the poor, before an independent acrostic poem takes over at verse ten to describe a household manager whose work spans trade, land, textiles, and charity to the needy. Scholars generally treat the two parts as separate compositions later joined at the book's end.
Key verses (KJV)
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” — Proverbs 31:30 (KJV)
What to notice as you read
Each line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, a poem built letter by letter rather than a checklist of duties. The structure runs from buying fields to weaving cloth to lending a hand to the poor, and the closing verses value capability and reverence over appearance.
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Read the full text of Proverbs 31 in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does Proverbs 31 come in Proverbs?
It is chapter 31 of 31 in Proverbs, a book of Wisdom in the Old Testament. The other widely-read chapters of Proverbs are linked further down this page.
Where can I read Proverbs 31?
Read the full text of Proverbs 31 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.