“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”
Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT
As if to bookend Proverbs, the chapter ends by speaking of the product of a woman who “fears the Lord.” Whereas the beginning of Proverbs speaks to the licivious women, the end speaks to the virtuous one. The beginning speaks to the woman who will bring a man to his grave, the end speaks to the women who will raise a man beyond it. All of this is because she fears the Lord. All of her actions play boldly against the rest of proverbs. Unlike her counterpart that extols the virtues of sex, comfort and fame, she does not concern herself with such things. She is beautiful, and praised as such , in a way that is beyond fading. Her beauty stands the test of time. She works hard at doing right by everyone in her life and her relationship with God and is herself seen as a wise. Admiration for her grows as her light gets dim. Pride doesn’t lie about her and beauty doesn’t leave her with age. She earns her reputation rather than manufacturing it. As men look for wives, she should be sought after. Her voice should be extolled amidst the myriad of voices and images beckoning us to our graves. We ought to put down our virtual red light districts on social media and look for a woman who fears the Lord.
JOSH McGARY.COM 