A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from far away.
She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls.
She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all her household are clothed in crimson.
She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:
'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Often captioned “a capable wife” – “a woman of valour” is a much better heading (or maybe “Wonder Woman”): this is one of the best known passages in the book of Proverbs. It’s an acrostic poem – the first letter in each line spells out the Hebrew alphabet. At least twice I have known men choose this reading for their mother’s funerals (but in my experience never chosen by women in the same situation – I wonder why that is?) And I can think of at least one bride who wore a purple dress at her wedding because of a line in this passage.
The passage is frequently criticised for the seeming perfectionism of this portrait – is it setting women up to fall short? It’s useful to remember that this is not one single ideal of femininity. In here are lots of ways a woman might act, and certainly this is an idea of virtue that’s defined by more than a focus on the domestic – this is active, powerful engagement in the world. It highlights the real economic contribution of a woman to her household, including care for the poor. There is value and dignity in her work.
The book of Proverbs as a whole is a teaching about wisdom, often personified as a woman. Some scholars argue that the woman of Proverbs 31 isn’t any actual person, but a picture of the ideal of Lady Wisdom.
In Jewish culture there’s a tradition of using this poem at the Sabbath meal, to honour the women in the home and to praise and thank them for all they’ve done. After reciting the alphabet of possible qualities, it ends with a direct address: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’ “There are lots of great women, but you’re the best.”
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