59 The idea of clothing and being clothed is a favorite figure in Hebrew. It makes a comparison between wearing clothes and having strength and honor. Just as clothes immediately indicate something of the nature and circumstances of the person, so do these virtues.
60 The first word of the sixteenth line begins with ע (ayin), the sixteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
61 This word appears in Ps 111:3 which says that the Lord’s work is honorable, and here the woman is clothed with strength and honor.
62 Here “laugh” is either a metonymy of adjunct or effect. The point is that she is confident for the future because of all her industry and planning.
63 Heb “day.” This word is a metonymy of subject meaning any events that take place on the day or in the time to come.
64 The first word of the seventeenth line begins with פּ (pe), the seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The words “mouth” (“opens her mouth”) and “tongue” (“on her tongue”) here are also metonymies of cause, referring to her speaking.
65 The Hebrew phrase תּוֹרַת־חֶסֶד (torat-khesed) is open to different interpretations. (1) The word “law” could here refer to “teaching” as it does frequently in the book of Proverbs, and the word “love,” which means “loyal, covenant love,” could have the emphasis on faithfulness, yielding the idea of “faithful teaching” to parallel “wisdom” (cf. ). (2) The word “love” should probably have more of the emphasis on its basic meaning of “loyal love, lovingkindness.” It also would be an attributive genitive, but its force would be that of “loving instruction” or “teaching with kindness.”
66 The first word of the eighteenth line begins with ץ (tsade), the eighteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
67 The expression bread of idleness refers to food that is gained through idleness, perhaps given or provided for her. In the description of the passage one could conclude that this woman did not have to do everything she did; and this line affirms that even though she is well off, she will eat the bread of her industrious activity.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Strength and honor are her clothing,

and she can laugh at the time to come.

Her mouth speaks wisdom,

and loving instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the activities of her household

and is never idle.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the future.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.

She looks after the ways of her household,

and the bread of idleness she will not eat.

KJV 1900King James Version

Strength and honour are her clothing;

And she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

And in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household,

And eateth not the bread of idleness.

Public Domain