She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. (Proverbs 31:17-18)
Other translations say: she girds herself with strength … she gathers her strength around her.
The word dresses is also translated arms or girds on. Words used of an army. And “makes her arms strong” is literally makes strong, bold or alert. Again, the picture of an army.
What a picture! There she is, feet a little apart so she won’t be knocked over. Long skirt tied up out of the way. Sleeves rolled up—alert and ready.
That’s not the picture I usually think of when I think of an excellent wife. This lady is strong. She is prepared. She provides and protects. She is confident that what she does is good (beautiful and beneficial). And she’s prepared – her lamp doesn’t run out of oil during the night.
I look at her and then look at the women’s movement. They work for women’s rights—the right to do the same work as men and get the same pay. They have accomplished things. But at a cost. It’s created a lot of women who tend to screech. They demand and they push. They murder the next generation for convenience sake.
An excellant woman/wife is armed with quiet strength, knowing what she does is beneficial.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control … (Galatians 5:22-23)