Proverbs 31
v.3
do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
The vigour of thy mind and body, which is greatly impaired by inordinate lusts, as all physicians agree, and frequent experience shows; nor thy ways ā Thy conversation or course of life; to that which destroyeth kings ā The same thing repeated in other words, as is very usual in these books; to the immoderate love of women, which is most destructive to kings and kingdoms, as was well known to Solomon, by the example of his father David, and by many other sad examples, left upon record in all histories.
LOL. Why does no one quote this verse when mentioning a Proverbs 31 woman? Gotta love the context for Proverbs 31.
v.10
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
The theme of the poem, the wife of noble character, captures the ideals of wisdom that have filled the book. It may well by that this is more the point of the composition than merely a portrayal of the ideal wife. The woman here presented is a wealthy aristocrat who runs a household estate with servants and conducts business affairs - real estate, vineyards, and merchandise - domestic affairs, and charity. It would be quite a task for any woman to emulate this pattern.
After all, the works says nothing about the womanās personal relationship with her husband, her intellectual or emotional strengths, or her religious activities. In general it appears that the woman of ch. 31 is a symbol of wisdom.
v.26
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She is wise and gracious in her speech. She uses good, practical common sense in her discussions; and her instruction is reliable. The last phrase of v.26 literally says ālaw of kindnessā: kind and faithful instruction comes from her.
v.28
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
The wisdom of the noble woman inspires praise from her familyāfrom those who know her the best. Unfortunately, praise often comes from outside the home, from those who do not know the person very well.
v.30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Physical appearance is not necessarily dismissedāit simply does not endure as do those qualities that the fear of the Lord produces. Beautiy is deceitful, and one who pursues beauty may very well be disappointed by the character of the ābeautifulā person. The reference to the fear of the Lord brings the book full circle; it began with a reference to it (1:7) and ends with a similar reference.