PART 3
A Virtuous Woman Part One
A Virtuous Woman Part Two

(26) She opens her mouth with wisdom and her tongue is the law of kindness.

She breaks forth with sound speech and precepts (principles) skillfully, wisely with wit (practical intelligence). In her speech are the precepts (rules of conduct) of piety (loyalty and devotion toward God). And she is full of good deeds and mercy.

Tongue in the Bible dictionary lists many ways to use the tongue for good as well as evil. Some of the "good": promotes health. (See Prov.12:18). And reveals the inner (woman). (Matt.12:33-37; 15:18; Luke 6:43-45).

The gift of tongues or Prayer 'language'. She would be a woman of prayer, asking favor and mercy for others. Intercession being a good deed. (1 Cor.14:2; 1 Thess.5:17; 1 Tim.2:1-3).

The word kindness or kind in the dictionary of word origins "....gradually progressed via 'of noble birth' and 'well disposed by nature' to (in the 14th century) 'benign, compassionate'...". In the Bible kindness is mentioned many times and therefore the Lord must have thought it was important. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you." (Eph.4:32).

Mercy in the Webster's Dictionary: "refrain from harming, punishing offenders, enemies, persons in one's own power; compassion; a disposition to forgive, pity or be kind."

And again, we see she reaps what she sows: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Ps.23:6).

(27) She looks well to the ways of her household and eats not the bread of idleness.

Lean forward or watch intensely the 'way' her family is going or 'walking'. "Judge me, O lord, for I have 'walked' in mine integrity. I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore, I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord and prove me, test my HEART and my mind. For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes, and I have 'walked' in thy truth." (Ps.26:1-3). "And they were both righteous before God, 'walking' in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless." "By a new and living 'way' which He hath consecrated for us..." "I rejoice greatly that I found of thy children 'walking' in the truth...". "'watch', stand fast in faith...". "My (daughter), give me thine heart and let thine eyes 'observe' my 'way'".(Lk.1:5; Heb.10:20; 2 John 4; 1 Cor.16:13; Prov.23:26).

She doesn't feed them with food of the slothful. "That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb.6:12). Nor, through her idleness, allow them to be 'fed on'. "Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge who 'eat up' my people as they eat bread? They have not called upon God." (Ps.53:4). "....when the wicked 'devoureth' the man that is more righteous than he?" (Hab.1:13). She teaches her children the 'way' they should 'walk'. To keep them from becoming prey for wickedness and being 'devoured' by the enemy. She keeps 'watch' over her children as the Shepherd keeps watch over His sheep.

"Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and His strength and His wonderful works that He hath done. For He established a testimony to Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children, that the generation to come might know them, even the children who should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not steadfast with God." (Ps.78:1-8)

We have rebellious children because they weren't raised up (taught from an early age) in the Lord. "Spirit not steadfast with God." Meaning 'Spirit not built up or supported, not render firm or faithful'. Steadfast in Hebrew: to trust, believe, to be true, to go to the right hand for assurance, belief, bring up, establish, to be faithful and of long continuance (endurance), sure or trusting. "Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of the strange children (unbelievers), whose mouth speaketh vanity and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood, that our sons may be like plants grown up in their youth, that our daughters may be like corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace;" (Ps.144:11,12).

"Daughters like corner stones, polished after the likeness of a palace" (temple or church). (Ps.144:12) Isaiah 28:16 tells us the corner stone is a foundation. Jesus was called a corner stone in 1 Peter 2:7 and Psalms 118:22. We must be, like Jesus, a corner stone (foundation) to build a family of believers on. Polish, in this verse, in Hebrew means: cut, carve. We should carve (mold) our young in the likeness of a temple, the church (Christians-family of God).

(28) Her children rise up and call her blessed: her husband also and he praises her.

Her children confirm, decree, establish, lift up, strengthen and call her "just, balanced, successful, honest and happy". They also look to her for guidance and so does her husband. He commends her, raves about her, sings her praises and to him she shines like a clear, unclouded jewel and she is 'sound' with a sound mind, heart, wisdom, doctrine, words, faith and speech.

Replacing English words with Hebrew and Greek meanings (lit. or fig.) in the following verses they would read this way:

*Ps. 119:80 Let my heart be (sincere, upright, truthful, full of integrity) in your laws, that I be not ashamed.
*Prov. 2:7 He lays up (substantiated) wisdom for the righteous;....
*2 Tim. 1:7 For God hasn't given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a (disciplined) mind.
*2 Tim. 1:13 Hold fast the form of (whole, uncorrupt) words, which thou has heard of me....
*Titus 2: 1,2 But speak you the things which become (whole, uncorrupt) doctrine:....(whole, uncorrupt) in faith, in love...
*Titus 2:8 (Healthy, true) speech that cannot be condemned....

(29) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Verse 29 paraphrased: Many of God's daughters have been (resourceful, strong, worthy, courageous and mighty. They 've been morally excellent and chaste) but you ascend above all others and shoot up to surpass them all.

This woman is the embodiment of excellence. "King's daughters were among thy honorable women, upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people and thy father's house, so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty; for He is the Lord and woship thou Him. And the daughters of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favor. The King's daughter is all glorious within, her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework, the virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the King's palace. Instead of they fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore, shall the people praise thee for ever and ever." (Ps. 45: 9-17).

Notice verses 10 and 16 above. Relinquish your family ties and your dad's rule and come be my family and live in my house. And instead of sisters and brothers I will give you your own children to mold into leaders.

(30) Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who feareth the Lord she shall be praised.

Graciousness (thoughtfulness, courtesy, charm). Kindness can be faked and beauty is transitory (temporary, fleeting) is empty without worth or purpose; but a woman who reverences (has an attitude or feeling of deep respect, love and awe) toward the Lord, she shall be praised (worthy of praise, celebrated, commended).

"....and they shall walk with me in white; for they are "worthy". (Rev.3:4). "Let the elders (aged) that rule well be counted 'worthy' of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." (1 Tim.5:17). "For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but who the Lord 'commendeth'". (2 Cor.10:18).

"The secret of the Lord is with those who (reverence) Him, and He will show them His covenant." (Ps. 25:14). "But unto you that (reverence) my name shall the Sun or righteousness arise with healing in His wings, and ye shall go forth, and grow up like calves to the stall." (Mal. 4:2).

(31) Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.

In Psalm 100, (above), the words pasture and gates both bring to mind heaven and paradise. Paradise is a gift bestowed, granted to one who overcomes. Revelations 2:7. Her inheritance or reward which is incorruptible, undefiled and cannot fade away is reserved for her. (1 Peter 1:4).

She will eat of the 12 fruits of the tree of life in paradise. She shall sit beside the rivers of life and look upon His face. She will have washed robes and the right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. God will wipe away all her tears and there will never be death or sorrow, crying or pain, forever. (She) that overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be (her) God and (she) will be my (daughter). (Rev.2:7; 21:45-7; 22: 1,2,4,14; Ps. 23:2).