the virtuous woman

¹⁰Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price. ¹¹The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils. ¹²She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life. ¹³She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands. ¹⁴She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away. ¹⁵And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.

¹⁵She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.

³⁰Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.

¹¹Therefore, do not be afraid, but whatever you decide about me, I will accomplish for you. For all the people, who dwell within the gates of my city, know that you are a virtuous woman.

¹But you are to speak the things that befit sound doctrine. ²Old men should be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience. ³Old women, similarly, should be in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well, ⁴so that they may teach prudence to the young women, so that they may love their husbands, love their children, ⁵be sensible, chaste, restrained, have concern for the household, be kind, be subordinate to their husbands: so that the Word of God may be not blasphemed. ⁶Exhort young men similarly, so that they may show self-restraint.

¹Similarly also, wives should be subject to their husbands, so that, even if some do not believe the Word, they may benefit without the Word, through the behavior of these wives,

¹¹For wisdom is better than all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to her.

³Old women, similarly, should be in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well, ⁴so that they may teach prudence to the young women, so that they may love their husbands, love their children, ⁵be sensible, chaste, restrained, have concern for the household, be kind, be subordinate to their husbands: so that the Word of God may be not blasphemed.

⁴A diligent woman is a crown to her husband. And she who acts with confusion as to which things are worthy is decay to his bones.

⁹Similarly also, women should be dressed fittingly, adorning themselves with compunction and restraint, and not with plaited hair, nor gold, nor pearls, nor costly attire, ¹⁰but in a manner proper for women who are professing piety by means of good works.

¹⁴A house and its riches are given by parents. But a prudent wife is particularly from the Lord.

²complete my joy by having the same understanding, holding to the same charity, being of one mind, with the same sentiment. ³Let nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himself. ⁴Let each of you not consider anything to be your own, but rather to belong to others.

¹⁰Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.

²⁰She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.

⁸Concerning the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is chaste, whatever is just, whatever is holy, whatever is worthy to be loved, whatever is of good repute, if there is any virtue, if there is any praiseworthy discipline: meditate on these.

¹⁹It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.

¹The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him: ²“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows? ³Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings. ⁴Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns. ⁵And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor. ⁶Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.

³in the same manner that all things which are for life and piety have been given to us by his Divine virtue, through the plan of him who has called us to our own glory and virtue.

⁹It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.

⁷Similarly, you husbands should live with them in accord with knowledge, bestowing honor on the female as the weaker vessel and as co-heirs of the life of grace, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

¹⁸She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.

¹¹The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.