Proverbs 31:10 NASB
An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
Other translations
New International Version
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
New Living Translation
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
English Standard Version
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
Berean Study Bible
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
King James Bible
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Amplified Bible
An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls.
Young’s Literal Translation
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies is her price.
Study
1. The person.
▪︎ A virtuous woman is a woman of strength.
Though the weaker vessel, yet made strong by wisdom and grace and the fear of God.
▪︎ A virtuous woman is a woman of spirit, who has the command of her own spirit, and knows how to manage other people’s, one that is pious and industrious,
▪︎ A virtuous woman is a helpmeet for a man.
▪︎ A virtuous woman is a woman of resolution.
2. The difficulty of finding such a woman.
Good women are very scarce.
Many that seem to be good women, do not prove they really are.
3. The unspeakable value of such a woman.
The value the man, who has such a wife, he ought to put upon her.
▪︎ By showing it by his thankfulness to God,
▪︎ By showing it by his kindness and respect to her,
And he must never think he can do too much of this.
Illustration
Mrs. Henry Clay, the wife of the celebrated American statesman, during her husband’s long and frequent absences from home at the seat of government, used to take the reins into her own hands at the farm.
- She made a practical study of agriculture,
- oversaw the overseer,
- and became an oracle among the farmers of the neighbourhood.
Preparatory to Mr. Clay’s departure from home, she invariably received from him a handsome cheque, which she as regularly restored to him upon his return, with the laconic remark that she found no use for it!
Anecdotes
A good wife
A good story is told of the famous plaid, without which Blackie was rarely seen.
One day, at Dr. Donald Macleod’s house, he said, “When I was a poor man, and my wife and I had our difficulties, she one day drew my attention to the threadbare character of my coat, and asked me to order a new one.
I told her I could not afford it just then, when she went, like a noble woman, and put her own plaid shawl on my shoulders, and I have worn a plaid ever since in memory of her loving deed!”
(Memoir of J. Stuart Blackie.)
Mrs. Moody
Writing of the greatness of Mr. D. L. Moody, Professor Drummond says: “If you were to ask Mr. Moody — which would never occur to you to do — what, apart from the inspirations of his personal faith, was the secret of his success, of his happiness and usefulness in life, he would assuredly answer, ‘Mrs. Moody.'”
Devotional
- What would happen if we valued our spouses?
- What would happen if we publicly valued a faithful wife more than a voluptuous starlet?
- What would happen if character was valued more than money?
I believe it would
▪︎ transform our culture,
▪︎ enhance our marriages,
▪︎and produce stronger and better adjusted children.
I know God would be pleased!
Prayer suggestions
- Thank God for the great examples of women of faith we read about in the Scriptures.
- Thank God for the godly women, who raise their children in God’s way, that are still with us today.
- Ask God to use you to show that you value godly women your my life, especially those who are wives of virtue and godly character.
Read more of these messages at: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Download your Bible pictures from http://bijbelplaatjes.nl
follow me on Twitter: @schoemakerharry
About Author
