Quick quiz: whose oracle is this? Why, it’s King Lemuel’s, as taught to him by his
mother. This fact is unequivocally established in the very first verse. The words express her beliefs; the good king simply put them on paper for the rest of us.
This fact is central to any un-triggered reading of the passage: a woman taught her son which character qualities and habits define an excellent
wife and make for a happy home. Lemuel’s mother does not insist he exclude
women from consideration who do not measure up to her lofty standards. She
doesn’t have to. Her preference is very evident.
In short, these verses cannot easily be dismissed as the misogynist rantings of the evil patriarchy; at least not if we
believe in the inspiration of scripture.
Some women really hate that.