Proverbs 31: The Breakdown

The following passage is Proverbs 31: 10-31 and is what my entire journey will be based on. For my study I am reading out of a new bible I received from my mom called, The Message (The Bible in Contemporary Language) but normally I would recommend NLT because I feel it's easier to understand; it seems to simplify the words a little bit and put them into language that is easier to understand. So for the sake of format, the following passage is taken straight from NLT.

A Wife of Noble Character

10Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?

She is more precious than rubies.

11Her husband can trust her,

and she will greatly enrich his life.

12She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

13She finds wool and flax

and busily spins it.

14She is like a merchant’s ship,

bringing her food from afar.

15She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household

and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16She goes to inspect a field and buys it;

with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17She is energetic and strong,

a hard worker.

18She makes sure her dealings are profitable;

her lamp burns late into the night.

19Her hands are busy spinning thread,

her fingers twisting fiber.

20She extends a helping hand to the poor

and opens her arms to the needy.

21She has no fear of winter for her household,

for everyone has warm clothes.

22She makes her own bedspreads.

She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.

23Her husband is well known at the city gates,

where he sits with the other civic leaders.

24She makes belted linen garments

and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and she laughs without fear of the future.

26When she speaks, her words are wise,

and she gives instructions with kindness.

27She carefully watches everything in her household

and suffers nothing from laziness.

28Her children stand and bless her.

Her husband praises her:

29“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,

but you surpass them all!”

30Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;

but a woman who fears the lord will be greatly praised.

31Reward her for all she has done.

Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

These 21 verses are examples of how we should behave as women of God. So that is my goal, to work towards possessing these qualities. I used to think that I would work on this some day down the road, you know, after I'm married and can actually put them into better use? But the truth of the matter is that having a ring on the finger and getting married does not automatically make you this amazing wife/husband that you thought you'd instantly become. If these qualities aren't within you before marriage, more than likely they won't be in you after marriage either. With that said, I want to be able to possess these qualities now and be able to hopefully master them down the road when I get married.


Love Always,
Stefanie :)