[She rises early ^ : and when occasion requires, goes late to rest*'. She encourages industry in her dependents •', and sets them an example of it herself*', willingly ^, regularly *^, without regarding fatigue ''.]
2. Her prudence —
[She sells the produce of her labour ', and lays out her money with judgment for the ^jermatietit benefit of her family''. She provides comfortably for her family in respect of food ' and clothing "". She guards against all waste of her husband's property ". She employs her leisure in improving her mind " ; and conducts herself with love and kindness towards all p.]
3. Her piety —
[She is not satisfied with performing her duties towards man, but endeavours to serve God also i. She accounts " the fear of God" to be the one thing needful. She labours above all things to cultivate this divine principle : she makes it the source and motive, the rule and measure, the scope and end, of all her actions ; and, while she serves her God, she delights also to benefit the poor ''.]
Of such a character it is not easy to estimate, n. The worth- Rubies are accounted valuable among earthly trea- sures : but the worth of such a woman is infinitely above them — she is,
1. An ornament to her sex —
[However highly beauty is prized among men, the endow- ments before mentioned render their possessor incomparably more lovely ^ The person possessing them must be admired in any station in life ; but her excellence is then most conspi- cuous and most valuable, when she sustains the relations of a wife and a mother *. It is to be lamented that such characters are rarely " found":" but the more scarce they are, the more worthy are they of our esteem.]
2. A blessing to her family —
[Of whatever rank they be, they cannot fail to reap much benefit from her prudent management, and pious example. If they be poor, especially, the good arising to them will be incal- culable. They will enjoy a thousand comforts, of which others
•» ver. 15. <= ver. 18. ^ ver. 15. e yer. 19. f ver. 13. s ver. 27. '» ver, 17. ' ver. 24. k yer. 16. ' ver. 15. ™ ver. 21. In the margin it is " with double garments.'' n ver, 1], 12, o ver, 26. i' ver, 26. i ver, 30.
r ver, 20, « ver. 30. * ver. 29, " The text.