Proverbs 31

¹⁰An excellent wife who can find?

More precious than jewels she is

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her

No lack of gain will be his

¹²She does him good and never harm

All of the days of her life

¹³She seeks out the wool and works with the flax,

With the hands of a willing wife

¹⁴She is like the ships of a merchant

Bringing her food from afar

¹⁵Providing food for her family,

food for her maidens

She rises while it is still dark

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;

With her profits, a vineyard she plants

¹⁷She sets to her work vigorously

And her arms are strong for her tasks

¹⁸She sees that her merchandise profits

And her lamp does not go out at night

¹⁹Her hands to the distaff,

her hands hold the spindle,

She works them with all of her might

²⁰To the needy and poor she opens her arms

And extends her hands to them both

²¹When it snows, for her family she has no fear

For they all in scarlet are clothed

²²She is clothed in fine linen and purple

She makes coverings for her bed

²³Her husband, respected at the city gates

With the elders he sits in the land

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them

To the merchant, sashes she brings

²⁵Strength and dignity she wears for clothes

And she laughs at future things

²⁶The teaching of kindness is on her tongue

And wisdom her mouth does repeat

²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household

The bread of idleness she does not eat

²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed

Her husband, he praises her too

²⁹Many women have excelled in these things

But all are surpassed by you

³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain

But for fearing the Lord you’ll be praised

³¹Give to this woman the fruit of her hands

May her works bring her praise in the gates!

by scott sullivan, © 2010