Proverbs 31:10–31

The Noble Wife

¹⁰Who can find a noble wife?

She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹Her husband trusts her completely.

She gives him all the important things he needs.

¹²She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

¹³She chooses wool and flax.

She loves to work with her hands.

¹⁴She is like the ships of traders.

She brings her food from far away.

¹⁵She gets up while it is still dark.

She provides food for her family.

She also gives some to her female servants.

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it.

She uses some of the money she earns to plant a vineyard.

¹⁷She gets ready to work hard.

Her arms are strong.

¹⁸She sees that her trading earns a lot of money.

Her lamp doesn’t go out at night.

¹⁹With one hand she holds the wool.

With the other she spins the thread.

²⁰She opens her arms to those who are poor.

She reaches out her hands to those who are needy.

²¹When it snows, she’s not afraid for her family.

All of them are dressed in the finest clothes.

²²She makes her own bed coverings.

She is dressed in fine linen and purple clothes.

²³Her husband is respected at the city gate.

There he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴She makes linen clothes and sells them.

She supplies belts to the traders.

²⁵She puts on strength and honor as if they were her clothes.

She can laugh at the days that are coming.

²⁶She speaks wisely.

She teaches faithfully.

²⁷She watches over family matters.

She is busy all the time.

²⁸Her children stand up and call her blessed.

Her husband also rises up, and he praises her.

²⁹He says, “Many women do noble things.

But you are better than all the others.”

³⁰Charm can fool you. Beauty fades.

But a woman who has respect for the Lord should be praised.

³¹Give her the reward she has earned.

Let everything she has done bring praise to her at the city gate.