Proverbs 31

As I prepare to be a wife I have been reading and meditating on Scritpure verses that talk about marriage, women, and wives. Proverbs 31:10-31 is titled "description of a worthy wife." I have decided that I am going to spend the next 20 or so days meditating in depth upon what God is telling us through these verses. I will post about what I find and pray that God will lead me and any other woman who follows along to discover more deeply the beauty of a godly wife. Here is the full text for you to read today.

An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

And he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

She looks for wool and flax

And works with her ^[h]hands ^[i]in delight.

She is like merchant ships;

She brings her food from afar.

She rises also while it is still night

And gives food to her household

And ^[j]portions to her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it;

From ^[k]her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She girds ^[l]herself with strength

And makes her arms strong.

She senses that her gain is good;

Her lamp does not go out at night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her ^[m]hands grasp the spindle.

She ^[n] extends her hand to the poor,

And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

And ^[o]supplies belts to the ^[p]tradesmen.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the ^[q]future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the ^[r]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways 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.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who ^[s] fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her the ^[t]product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.