Proverbs 31: 20 - 31

A Virtuous Woman

¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

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

³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

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


	Scripture Readings Virtuous Woman 950 BC		Weekly Reflection Fathers' Day 2010
	Proverbs 31: 20 - 31 A Virtuous Woman ¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. ¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. ²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. *Attributed to Solomon, the wise man son of David and Bathsheba*		Who Can Find a Masculine Catholic Who can find a masculine Catholic, rare and worth far more than you think. His wife has full confidence in him, and she lacks nothing she really needs. He brings her good and not evil all the days of his life, Recognizing that falling in love and staying there is one face of the Living God. He has found work meaningful to his soul, and it provides adequately for those he loves. He gives generously to those who need yet fiercely avoids fostering dependence. He pays and drives for his children, engaging them playfully on the family floor, Knowing that "Daddy" was Jesus' best name for God. He maintains his life insurance and invests bits in his retirement fund, Scrutinizing the budget for meager security and abundant fun. He feels loss deeply and shares it sparingly, knowing he is never alone in the hurt. He attends the funerals, both those sensitively personal and the deadeningly ritualized. He seeks a church place for his normal anger and his loving passion, both given by the Spirit. Finding it nowhere he worships from his heart, sometimes in church. He has shown his wife the importance for sex in his life and she responds. She's taught him to listen to her carefully, emotionally, and daily, and he has learned. He's decided in marital tandem about influence they may have on the number of their births, Knowing there is nothing of wisdom to be expected from leaders about romance. He recognizes his failures and keeps them mostly to himself, Finding no-one in the confessional who remotely understands. He keeps polite distance from engaging church leaders rather than embarrass them or himself. Unwilling to submit to sexless views, he watches and hopes for their eventual maturity. He cringes for the pain of fine women he knows, gifted for Catholic leadership, And the men who have married women too. Suavite is deceptive and good looks are vain. But the man who chooses the Lord over the organizational structure he shall be praised. Give him in the next life the favor he does not seek. And may his efforts make some kind of difference somewhere in the evolution of love. *Gordon J. Hilsman , 2010*