THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON · Day 9 of 14
The Woman of Valor
1 · READ THE TEXT
Proverbs 31:10-31
Proverbs 31:10-31
Open in the reader →10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
2 · UNDERSTAND
The closing poem of Proverbs is an acrostic: each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from aleph to tav. The woman described there is called eshet chayil — "woman of valour", a military expression translated elsewhere as "mighty warrior". She buys fields, plants a vineyard, trades, teaches with kindness and opens her hand to the poor. The text is not a list of impossible demands: it is a hymn of honour, traditionally sung by the husband to his wife on Friday evenings. And it ends by dismantling any shallow reading: "charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised".
3 · REFLECT AND ANSWER
Read the text again and answer calmly. Your answers are kept only in this browser.
- 1.What does this text reveal about who God is?
- 2.What does it show about people — and about you?
- 3.What will you do differently today because of it?
4 · LIVE AND PRAY
Practical application
Today, out loud and in front of other people, honour a woman whose work you usually receive in silence — mother, wife, daughter, colleague.
Lesson prayer
Lord, teach me to see and to say the worth of those who serve me every day without hearing a word of recognition. Amen.
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