箴言最終章-認清虛假與真價值（箴31章）

豔麗是虛假的．美容是虛浮的．惟敬畏耶和華的婦女、必得稱讚。（箴 31：30）

本章是箴言的最後一章，出自於一位不可考的「利慕伊勒王」的箴言。目前的沙巴總會總負責梁利慕伊勒傳道所用的聖名，就是出自這裡。其中第一節說：「利慕伊勒王的言語、是他母親教訓他的真言。」，可見利慕伊勒王對於母親所說的話，都有聽進去，並銘記心。甚至在他當王之後，沒有因身份、年紀改變了，就自以為是、充耳不聞：「利慕伊勒阿、君王喝酒、君王喝酒不相宜．王子說：『濃酒在那裏』也不相宜．」（箴 31：4）」。

常常年紀長了、職份高了，人就變了，就像聖經中的約阿施王，年幼時就開始雷厲風行做神喜悅的事，晚年卻荒唐到殺害神的祭司，而且還是自己的表哥。應當像這位利慕伊勒王一樣，不因身份改變而不聽勸言，願意永保謙卑受教的心，一生都願意虛心接受指教，得以不斷長進。

箴言到了最後一章，以「虛假」與「真價值」的判斷作爲結論。這裡以「才德的婦人」為例，提醒人要認清人生的真價值，不要浪費時間、生命在無意義、毫無價值的事上。並因此為下一卷【傳道書】做引言，預告真價值是「敬畏耶和華真神」。

這是個只重外貌、學經歷，等一切世俗的條件的世界。屬神的人，心中有聖靈，只要完全順服聖靈的引導，藉由屬靈的眼光，就可以靠主看見屬靈的內涵。特別是未婚的青年男女，更要有這樣的見識，不要因為外表的高學歷、高顏值、高貴的職業所惑，就以貌取人、託付終身。

從真理而言，婚姻的對象最基本的條件、也是最重要不可或缺的條件，就是「敬畏耶和華」，除此之外免談。因為婚姻，就是為了要一同奔跑天路，既然要同跑，必須有相同的信仰，也就是在真耶穌教會受洗歸入基督的主內弟兄姊妹。這位人生的伴侶，應當願意將神放在生命的第一位，且價值觀的順序要正確。如以撒的人生順序一樣：

以撒就在那裏築了一座壇、求告耶和華的名、並且支搭帳棚．他的僕人便在那裏挖了一口井。（創 26：25）

這裡可以看見人生正確的順序，就是：信仰第一「築了一座壇、求告耶和華的名」、家庭第二「並且支搭帳棚」、事業第三「挖了一口井」。

母親的人生價值觀，是影響全家是否幸福的最重要關鍵。「豔麗是虛假的．美容是虛浮的」，若一位適婚年齡的主內弟兄，只看豔麗與美容，他將不會認真去考量她的信仰問題，一旦因此被魅惑、走入婚姻，就可能如所羅門在箴言中反覆出現的抱怨：

寧可住在房頂的角上、不在寬闊的房屋、與爭吵的婦人同住。（箴 21：9、25：24）講了兩次。

大雨之日連連滴漏、和爭吵的婦人一樣．（箴 27：15）

寧可住在曠野、不與爭吵使氣的婦人同住。（箴 21：19） 

可見擁有三千美女的所羅門，多麼苦腦！而且「豔麗」、「美容」，會隨時間消逝，最後只剩最真實的內涵、與衰老不堪的容貌。

對於身為母親的人而言，若是只重「豔麗」、「美容」，看重這些表面的東西，就是人生的體面與否，她將會教育她的孩子走向「出人頭地」的世俗方向，也就是要出名、要體面、要好聽、要好看。相應的作為，就是會逼孩子多參加比賽得冠軍、拼命補習讀名校等。但這些都是虛浮的，若沒有真信仰在孩子心中紮根，最後即使賺得全世界，卻沒有屬靈的生命，又有何意義？

才德的婦人，最重要的就是要能引領全家的信仰。

他開口就發智慧．他舌上有仁慈的法則．他觀察家務、並不喫閒飯。他的兒女起來稱他有福．他的丈夫也稱讚他、說：「才德的女子很多、惟獨你超過一切。」（箴 31：26-29）

正如詩篇蒙福的家庭篇所說的，家庭蒙福的關鍵，在於：妻子專注在「內室」。也就是真實的宗教教育，而不是鼓動家人去追求世俗，卻不做好家庭祭壇的工作。

你妻子在你的內室、好像多結果子的葡萄樹．你兒女圍繞你的桌子、好像橄欖栽子。看哪、敬畏耶和華的人、必要這樣蒙福。（詩 128：3-4）

真價值，在乎有沒有敬畏耶和華。因此，無論是身為父親、或是母親，都當認清此真價值，把握有限的生命，做好神所託付的一切使命。

我的民因無知識而滅亡．你棄掉知識、我也必棄掉你、使你不再給我作祭司．你既忘了你神的律法、我也必忘記你的兒女。（何 4：6）

By Isaiah Kao

Proverbs Final Chapter – Recognizing Falsehood and True Value (Proverbs 31)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)  

This chapter is the last chapter of Proverbs, derived to the sayings of an otherwise unknown “King Lemuel.” The holy name currently used by Preacher Liang Lemuel, the General Assembly of Sabah, originates here. Verse 1 states: “The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him.” This shows that King Lemuel listened to his mother’s words and treasured them. Even after becoming king, he did not let his status or age make him arrogant or indifferent: “It is not for kings, Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink.” (Proverbs 31:4).  

Often, as people grow older or rise in position, they change. Like King Joash, who as a child zealously did what pleased God, but later became corrupt to the point of killing God’s priest—his own cousin. We should instead be like King Lemuel, who remained humble and teachable, willing to accept counsel throughout his life, and thus continued to grow.  

Proverbs concludes with a contrast between “falsehood” and “true value.” Using the example of the “virtuous woman,” it reminds us to discern life’s true worth and not waste time and energy on meaningless pursuits. This sets the stage for the next book, Ecclesiastes, which emphasizes that true value lies in “fearing the LORD.”  

We live in a world that values appearance, education, career and worldly status. Yet those who belong to God, guided by the Holy Spirit, can see true spiritual substance through spiritual eyes. Especially for unmarried young men and women, it is crucial not to be deceived by outward beauty, high education, or high careers, and entrust them for a life time.  

From the perspective of truth, the most basic and indispensable condition for a marriage partner is “the fear of the LORD.” Without this, there is no foundation. Marriage is a journey of running the heavenly race together, which requires shared faith, namely, brothers and sisters baptized into Christ within the True Jesus Church. Such a life partner must place God first, with values ordered correctly, just as Isaac did:  

“So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.” (Genesis 26:25)  

Here we see the proper order of life: faith first (“built an altar and called upon the name of the LORD”), family second (“pitched his tent”), and career third (“dug a well”).  

A mother’s values are the key to whether a family is truly blessed. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain.” If a brother of marriageable age focuses only on charm and beauty, he may neglect the woman’s faith. If captivated by outward allure, he may enter marriage only to suffer, as Solomon complained  repeatedly:  

“It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” (Proverbs 21:9; 25:24)  

“A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike.” (Proverbs 27:15)  

“It is better to live in a desert land than with a contentious and irritating woman.” (Proverbs 21:19)  

Solomon, despite having three thousand women, was deeply troubled. Beauty fades with time, leaving only inner substance and aging appearance.  

For mothers, if they value only charm and beauty, comparing them with dignity, they will raise children to chase worldly success—fame, status, appearances. This often means pushing children into endless competitions, tutoring, and elite schools. Yet all this is vanity. Without true faith rooted in their hearts, even if they gain the whole world, they lack spiritual life.  

The virtuous woman’s greatest role is to lead her family in faith:  

“She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She watches over the activities of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: ‘Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.’” (Proverbs 31:26–29)  

As Psalm 128 describes, a blessed family depends on the wife’s focus on the “inner chamber”, true religious education, not worldly pursuits, but faithfully maintaining the family altar:  

“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table. Behold, for so shall a man Who fears the LORD be blessed.” (Psalm 128:3–4)  

True value lies in fearing the LORD. Therefore, whether father or mother, we must recognize this true value, seize our limited time, and fulfill the mission entrusted by God.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6)