High Praise From the Lord

Proverbs 31:10-31

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 Virtuous Wife deserves high praise from the Lord as well as her husband.  She is more valuable than any earthly material riches.  Her husband knows that he can completely trust her to do what is good and right, enabling them both to prosper in the household.  She is not afraid to work with her hands to find materials to make what they need, traveling near and far to find the raw materials to fashion into useful things for them.  She rises early to ensure all is taken care of for food and other necessities, then going out to find good investments that they may increase and have what is needed for their daily bread.  She exercises herself by continuing work that she may diligently provide for her family and makes useful application of her efforts, going further than her household in actively reaching out to meet the needs of the poor around her.  She has no worries about cold weather, for she ensures that the family is warmly clothed along with herself in fine looking attire.  This makes her husband also of good reputation with others as he works in the community.  This is the helpmate spoken of by God in Genesis 2:18, 22 who completes him as being from his very side and not under his feet or as an added servant, but “bone of his bone and flesh of his own flesh,” (Genesis 2:23) a part of himself.  This excellent wife earns part of the living as well, but is herself clothed above all with honor and inner strength of character in her actions.  Her kindness and wisdom is heard by her husband, family, friends, and neighbors.  Yes, her household is taken care of by her diligence and so her children bless her and her husband praises her.  Yes, for she excels all others in his eyes as Adam exclaimed when joining together with her in the first marriage of man and wife as designed by God’s good grace and wisdom.  The often quoted verse 30 sums it up, that the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised for her true charm of grace and beauty of soul lived out in this blessed Union of God’s good design.  She therefore should receive her due for this fruit and her works that all in the land might know and praise her as well.  This is high praise from the Lord and her husband!  Wisdom is personified in such a virtuous wife and her actions, and is an example and summary of the wisdom in this book’s final chapter.  It ends this book of wisdom with its capstone of High Praise From the Lord.  Amen and amen!