The Woman Who Fears the Lord
Pro 31:10 A woman [Or “wife”] of excellence, [Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”] who will find?
For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband [Or “lord”] trusts in her,
and gain he will not lack.
Pro 31:12 She does him good, but not harm
all the days of her life.
Pro 31:13 She seeks wool and flax,
and she works with the diligence of her hands. [Literally “her palms”]
Pro 31:14 She is like the ships of a merchant;
from far off she brings her food; [Or “bread”]
Pro 31:15 And she arises while it is still night,
and gives food to her household,
and tasks to her servant girls.
Pro 31:16 She considers a field and buys it,
from the fruit of her hand [Literally “her palm”] she plants a vineyard.
Pro 31:17 She girds her waist in strength,
and makes her arms strong.
Pro 31:18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her lamp does not go out in the night.
Pro 31:19 Her hands she puts onto the distaff, [A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning]
and her palms hold a spindle.
Pro 31:20 Her palm she opens to the poor,
and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
Pro 31:21 She does not fear for her house when it snows,
for her entire household [Literally “all her house, household”] is clothed in crimson.
Pro 31:22 She makes for herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Pro 31:23 Her husband [Or “lord”] is known at the gates,
in his seat among the elders of the land.
Pro 31:24 Linen garments she makes and sells,
and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
Pro 31:25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the future. [Literally “to the day/time coming after”]
Pro 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
Pro 31:27 She looks after the ways of her household,
and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
Pro 31:28 Her children rise and consider her happy,
her husband [Or “lord”] also , and he praises her;
Pro 31:29 “Many daughters have done excellence, [Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”]
but you surpass [Literally “you ascend over”] all of them.”
Pro 31:30 Charm [Hebrew “The charm”] is deceit and beauty [Hebrew “the beauty”] is vain; [Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”]
but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
Pro 31:31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
and may they praise her works in the city gates.
J.
