10[a] An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11The
heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12She
does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She
seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14She
is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15She
rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for
her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
with the
fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17She dresses herself
[b] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18She perceives
that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She
puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20She
opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21She
is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
[c] 22She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing
is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates
when
he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them;
she
delivers sashes to the merchant.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and
she laughs at the time to come.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and
the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her
household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her
children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29"Many
women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
30Charm
is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
