10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
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,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over 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 daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
[The Parallel Study Bible]
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
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,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over 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 daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:10-21 is an acrostic poem, in which the first word of each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This poem is part of the instruction that King Lemuel's mother gave to teach her son about wisdom (31:1). In describing the "virtuous wife", Lemuel's mother was showing what wisdom looks like when it is lived out in everyday life.
Why is the woman of Proverbs 31 more valuable than rare jewels (31:10)? It is because of her wisdom, her ability to live life in a responsible, productive, and prosperous way (Proverbs 1:2). The Book of Proverbs often personifies wisdom as a woman (8:1-11), and also describes wisdom as more valuable than any riches (3:15; 8:11).
Thus, it is no surprise that the woman of Proverbs 31 earns praise in the most public of places, the gates of the city (31:31), which in her day represented a combination of city hall and the marketplace. She is a woman whose hard work brings material rewards (31:13-16, 21, 22). Proverbs promises that whoever seeks and finds wisdom will also find wealth, happiness, honor, and long life. This woman is an example of how those promises are fulfilled.
It is worth noting that this woman pursues what are sometimes thought of as traditional female jobs, such as making clothes (31:13, 19), as well as nontraditional work, such as real estate investment, farming, and merchandising (31:16, 18). Furthermore, her energies are directed not only toward providing for her family and household (31:11, 14, 15, 27), but also toward meeting the needs of people in the community (31:20).
In short, the woman of Provers 31 is a model, for both women and men, of a way of living that brings fulfillment and contentment. She exhibits a lifestyle of work and love, based on godly wisdom.
Why is the woman of Proverbs 31 more valuable than rare jewels (31:10)? It is because of her wisdom, her ability to live life in a responsible, productive, and prosperous way (Proverbs 1:2). The Book of Proverbs often personifies wisdom as a woman (8:1-11), and also describes wisdom as more valuable than any riches (3:15; 8:11).
Thus, it is no surprise that the woman of Proverbs 31 earns praise in the most public of places, the gates of the city (31:31), which in her day represented a combination of city hall and the marketplace. She is a woman whose hard work brings material rewards (31:13-16, 21, 22). Proverbs promises that whoever seeks and finds wisdom will also find wealth, happiness, honor, and long life. This woman is an example of how those promises are fulfilled.
It is worth noting that this woman pursues what are sometimes thought of as traditional female jobs, such as making clothes (31:13, 19), as well as nontraditional work, such as real estate investment, farming, and merchandising (31:16, 18). Furthermore, her energies are directed not only toward providing for her family and household (31:11, 14, 15, 27), but also toward meeting the needs of people in the community (31:20).
In short, the woman of Provers 31 is a model, for both women and men, of a way of living that brings fulfillment and contentment. She exhibits a lifestyle of work and love, based on godly wisdom.
[The Parallel Study Bible]
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