Mother Day Proverb31

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This beautiful poem of the biblical virtuous woman is designed to show what wives the women should make and what wives the men should choose. This exquisite picture of a truly lovely wife is conceived and drawn in accordance with the customs of Eastern nations, but its moral teachings are suitable for all times. It consists of twenty-two verses, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet starting from the first in order, as some of the Psalms, eg Psa 119.

There is no reason to attribute it to Lemuel or to his mother nor was it part of the lesson which Lemuel's mother taught him, but a poem by itself, written by some other hand, suggesting that it had been commonly repeated among the pious Jews, for the ease of which it was made alphabetical. It is an anonymous appendix to the whole book of Proverbs, exalting, as Proverbs does elsewhere, the honour and dignity of womanhood, and the importance of a mother's teaching to her children.

The abridgment of it is repeated in the New Testament where the duty prescribed to women agrees with this description of a good wife; and with good reason is so much stress laid upon it, since it contributes as much as any other thing to the keeping up of religion in families. For the sake of posterity it is important that the mothers be wise and good and submitted to godly order, and in a practical way completely given to the prosperity of their homes in a sensible manner.

1Ti 2:9,10 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Tit 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

1Pe 3:1-6 Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

The acrostic of Proverbs 31 is clearly about a woman of position and ability. She has a large household, means, a plot of land, knowledge and charm. She is diligent, wise, and caring, devoted to her husband and to her family.