PROVERBS 31

1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows? 3 Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink; 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all who are left desolate. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, maintain the rights of the poor and needy. 10 A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

“The Daily Bread” provides the truths you need to live the abundant life that God desires for you. The Book of Proverbs provides truths and exhortations to live such a life. There are 31 chapters in the Book of Proverbs. Reading one chapter every day will give you wisdom to help you through the trials of life and teach you how to live a wonderful, joy-filled life.

In 1 Kings 3, God asked King Solomon what he would like to have above all else. Solomon did not ask for money or power but for wisdom. God was so pleased with his answer that He gave Solomon wisdom, wealth, and power. Archeologists and other experts claim that King Solomon was the richest man to ever live, even to this day. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of the wisdom and knowledge from King Solomon and other wise men. Although the majority of the Proverbs were written in the tenth century B.C. (during the time of Israel's unified kingdom), most of the truths they behold are still relevant today.

I personally have been reading a chapter in Proverbs every day since 2007, and each day there is something that relates to my life and personal walk with Jesus. The goal of this site is to share the Good News of Jesus and to share the Word of God. I look back at my life and realize how radically different my earlier years would have been had I known the truths in the Bible, especially the Proverbs. I hope and pray that God will bless you as you read “The Daily Bread.”

Peter Martin