Proverbs 31

 NET, "The poem captures all the themes of wisdom that have been presented in the book and arranges them in this portrait of the ideal woman... Proverbs 31 is a symbol of all that wisdom represents.... is a hymn to Lady Wisdom, written in the heroic mode. Using this arrangement allows the sage to make all the lessons of wisdom in the book concrete and practical, it provides a polemic against the culture that saw women as merely decorative."

v.10-12 The praise of wisdom: She is valuable, her husband has confidence in her, because he has no lack of gain and she brings him good. We should have the same praise to wisdom for what we learned from proverbs about wisdom.

v.13-22 A revision of what wisdom (or people with wisdom) does: she is pleased to work, she is hard working and bring things from afar for her family's needs, she gets up early, she takes her responsibility diligently, she manages well, she does not lend money, but work vigorously to have financial stability, she works hard so that she can help the poor (reading v.19-20 together). Are we please at our work? Do you work so that you have enough to help the poor?

v.22b-25 The rewards of having wisdom: Her clothing is fine linen and purple (clothing for the noble), her husband is respected among the community, and she is clothed with strength and honor v.25. Scriptures always encouraged us when a command is given to us. God wants us to obey Him and tells us why ahead of time.

v.25-31 Conclusion and final praise: v.30

    Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting,
    but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.

After reading Proverbs do you become a woman who fears the LORD (or a woman with wisdom 1:7)?

Audrey