Magyar Egyház, 1978 (57. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-05-01 / 5-6. szám
8 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN HER PRICE IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES Nothing can add to the sheer beauty of the Bible portrait of the virtuous woman, though an entire sermon could be preached on each single phrase about her. Summarizing as it does the most noble attributes of the wife and mother, this is literature’s most perfect picture of the ideal woman. Her chastity, her charity, her diligence, her efficiency, her earnestness, her love for her husband and children, even her business foresight, are brilliantly illuminated in words that riseup majestically from the page. But the light in all its effulgence shines upon her godliness. This quality, the Bible seems to say, is what gives meaning, purpose, and direction to her life. Many of the verses in the Book of Proverbs, of which this is the conclusion, are written in the style of the parent talking to a son just reaching manhood. It is as though a mother and a father instruct their son in practical piety. Like the refrain in a song, “my son, my son” appears eighteen times, and you can almost hear the mother’s ejaculatory prayer as she counsels with her son. Such admonitions as “My son, attend unto my wisdom” or “My son, give me thine heart, fear thou the Lord, be wise, and make my heart glad” appear over and over again. The son is warned, for example, against the “strange woman,” who is likened to a “narrow pit” and who has lips that are “as an honeycomb” and a mouth that is “smoother than oil.” He is warned also against the “fair woman which is without discretion,” described as a “jewel of gold in a swine’s snout.” Strong warnings also are given against the “foolish woman,” depicted as “clamorous, simple, and knowing nothing,” against the “contentious and angry woman,” also the “adulterous woman,” the “brawling woman” and the “whorish woman.” “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house,” says one Proverb. “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman,” says another. In one bold stroke, we are told that the “adulterous woman” “will hunt for (his) life.” Then finally, coming to a brilliant climax, like the overpowering finale in a symphony, this mother admonishes her son to be wise and to listen to the praise of a good wife. So inspiring is the passage in the King James Version that we shall not try to add to or take from it. “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies,” it begins. And then it continues: The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Here we see a woman who uses her time wisely, who richly provides for the growing needs of her family, and who continually seeks to build her spiritual resources so as to be prepared for any emergency. We see, too, a woman who shows skill in all her household tasks, who aids the needy, who guards her tongue, and who has dignity of character. Because of all these qualities, her husband “is known in the gates,” and her children call her blessed. Verbs in the passage are especially meaningful. The virtuous woman, for example, “seeketh,” “riseth,” “girdeth,” “maketh,” “openeth,” and “looketh.” Thirteen out of the twenty-two verses begin with the pronoun “She,” thus placing emphasis on the
