The Virtuous Woman

1. A virtuous woman is a gem above the ruby’s value far:
    She shineth in God’s diadem with clearer luster than a star.
Her goodness is a guarding wall around her husband; he desires
    No other love, but all in all, to him, her tenderness inspires.

2. Her help upholds him, and her voice is like a song about his days;
    Her loins and arms with strength rejoice; her sceptre is a hymn of praise.
She buyeth well and selleth well, and plants a vineyard with her hands;
    She maketh linen fine to sell, and by the needy ever stands.

3. Her household are in scarlet dress’d; she does not fear the snow and cold:
    Her instinct knoweth what is best; her fingers wool and flax unfold.
She riseth early, and prepares food for her household through the night;
    Her diligence a candle bears; and darkness round her is as light.

4. Like to a merchant ship she brings her food from fields that distant lie.
    Her tongue the law of kindness sings, and there is wisdom in her eye.
She robes herself with tapestries; and strength and honor are her dress;
    Her household’s ev’ry need she sees, and scorns the bread of idleness.

5. Her husband sitteth in the gates, and he is honor’d in the land:
    The goodness of his spirit mates the lovely ardor of her hand.
Her children and her husband call her blessed, and revere her worth;
    More excellent is she than all who do great deeds upon the earth.

6. A virtuous woman is a gem above the ruby’s value far:
    She shineth in God’s diadem with clearer luster than a star.
Favor is false and beauty vain, but prais’d be woman when she waits
    Upon the Lord, for she shall gain a full approval in the gates.

– based on Proverbs 31:10-31

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The text for this paraphrase on Proverbs 31 comes from Greater Poems of the Bible (1943) by Wilson Macdonald.

Tags: Blessed, Diligent, Merciful, Pure, Strong, Tender, Virtuous, Wise, Woman