A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than
rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her
family
and portions for her female
servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants
a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her
tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out
at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with
her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the
needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in
scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen
and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among
the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants
with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to
come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on
her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of
idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he
praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD
is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her
praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31 is the Bible’s most famous
work on the ‘Virtuous Wife’. The list of attributes it goes on to describe can
be found in Jane Austen’s most famous work, Pride and Prejudice, but in many
different ways. No one character had all the traits of the virtuous woman,
though Elizabeth came close.
Jane Austen’s famous work, Pride and
Prejudice, was published in 1813. During that time, like in Proverbs 31,
marriage was the only honorable provision for women in the class of society to
which the Bennet and the Lucas families belonged. The number and kind of jobs
available, especially for women, were far more limited at that time than they
are today. The only respectable paid work open to a gentlewoman, the class to
which the Bennet family belonged, was the job of lady companion or being a
governess. Imagine being Mrs. Jenkinson- Miss De Bough’s companion- and always
having to be pleasant to that insipid little hypochondriac, always under the
careful watch of Lady Catherine.
It might not be as unpleasant an idea to
be governess to the little Gardiner children or to the large family that you
may be sure Jane and Mr. Bingley would produce, but even in such kindly
households as these, a governess lived in a room close to the schoolroom, was
on duty 24 hours a day, had, perhaps, a week’s holiday per year and earned
between 10 and 20 pounds per year. Of course she had room and board, but you
wouldn’t get rich on that salary, nor could you do much to plan for your
retirement. If you did not have friendly and thoughtful employers, your life
could be very unhappy indeed. You would be considered one of the ‘maidens’ from
Proverbs 31, and completely under the care of your mistress. The only other
decent occupation open to girls such as the Bennets was marriage, and even here
it was pretty unpredictable.
Unlike the Proverbs 31 woman, their
clothing was mended and re-trimmed frequently, and they had no occupation. They
were merely a decoration for their husbands, and did not do any actual work.
Mrs. Bennet’s frequent ‘weakness’ kept her from doing any labor, a stark
contrast to the hardworking Proverbs 31 wife who was up before the sun and kept
the household going. Also, the disrespectful and unruly younger children of the
Bennets were utterly unlike the Proverbs 31 children who praised their mother
and respected their parents. As far as stature and pride goes, the woman
closest to Proverbs 31 would be Lady Catherine. She was respected and wealthy,
and she dressed well and kept her house in order. However, she was not
respected because of her hard work, but rather her money and unpleasant
disposition.
Elizabeth is the only character to whom
most of the attributes of Proverbs 31 would come into play. She was no stranger
to hard work, serving others, and looked to be a great future help to her
husband, despite their awkward beginnings.
Sara Dawkins
Author
Bio
Sara is an active nanny as well as an
active freelance writer. She is a frequent contributor of nanny agency. You can reach her at saradawkins61ATgmail.com.
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