10 [a]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[b] clothes.
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[b] clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
Ok, you are probably wondering why I picked this to write about today? Well, I know this passage well. That doesn't mean I have it memorized but I know enough about it to explain it to others. Actually the real reason I know it well, is that everytime I go to my parents house and sit in the kitchen, I look at the cross-stitch picture of the passage that my mom made, hanging on the wall. At many family parties it becomes the topic of conversation. We joke around by going through each verse and discussing how we are not virtuous women or we try to rationalize the ways we are virtuous women. Either way, our discussion brings more questions and some laughter, poking fun at our rationalizations.
In today's world, 2,000 years after this was written, one would think that it would be easy to be a virtuous women, with our advanced technology and fast paced lifestyle full of convience, however, I believe in these times, it's harder than ever...or is it? Do you want to be a virtuous women? In my very traditional beliefs, I really do. I wish I came close to saying I am one but at least I can say I try every day. Raising two girls also makes this passage extra important, because I know in this world, striving to be virtuous is a goal I want for each of them. My sweet husband never fails to compliment me on the many ways I am and that makes me feel good. Sometimes my kids would beg to differ though and I'm still waiting for the time they stand and bless me. Yet being that my job is a stay-at-home mom, I feel the pressure of proving to myself and others, that I am in fact virtuous and more precious than rubies. Believe me, I am in no way talking down about myself, I, like anyone with an important job, wants to be noticed for doing it well. There are days though that I look at other women and think to myself, "Wow, she's got it going on, I wish I could be more like her." but I quickly remember that in my little world, I got it going on and I don't want to be anyone else but me.
Look, no one women can be all of these things all of the time, I mean, I'm not making my own bedspreads, inspecting fields, buying them and planting vineyards (although that would be pretty neat) but the verse that sticks out to me and I really try to remember above all others is verse 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Which verse speaks to you?
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