Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
The last verse of the portrait of the worthy woman weighs two things the world prizes — charm and good looks — and finds both empty. It closes the whole book of Proverbs by naming the one quality that outlasts looks and wins real praise: the fear of the Lord.
What the verse sets aside
The first half of the verse sets aside two things that carry real weight in ordinary life. One writer adds every other natural advantage to the list, and says who does the weighing.
Worldly favour is deceitful, and beauty of the flesh is empty. The flesh gains nothing. The advantages of this life — birth, culture, riches or fame — count for nothing in the Lord's estimation. He is the righteous Judge, and He weighs them in His own scales. But the fear of the Lord brings obedience to Him and affection for Him. That alone deserves and gets praise and honourable mention before the coming judgment seat — the true "gates" this verse points to.
Why appearance cannot deceive God
A person can manage charm and put on a pleasant manner. The verse calls it deceitful. One writer points to what God looks at instead, and to when He announces the verdict.
How fitting that a book marked by the fear of the Lord should end in this way. Others may try to win favour by pleasant manners or good looks. But the eyes of the Lord look deeper. He sees the heart, and the heart shows itself in steady daily conduct and devotion. No one can deceive Him. Empty good looks make no impression on His heart of absolute truth and purity… "She is to be praised." Others will come to see her worth. Far above that, God will give His own approval. "Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes… Then each one will receive his commendation from God" (1 Cor. 4:5).
(The older translation Grant quotes reads "then shall every man have praise of God.")
A lesson not limited to women
The verse names a woman, because the whole passage describes a wife and mother. But the contrast it draws is not only for women. One writer says so directly.
The favour of the world is deceitful; like natural beauty it does not last. But the woman who, in reverent fear, seeks to please the Lord will have a satisfying and praiseworthy life. And this is true for us all.
The beauty that does not fade
Another writer links this closing portrait with an earlier proverb about a gracious woman. He names the quality that keeps its value when wealth cannot.
The picture in the last part of Proverbs 31 is of a woman who could be called "gracious" just as truly as "virtuous." These are only two sides of the same person… In her, a gentle and quiet spirit is not only of great value in God's sight; it is a blessing that lasts. But what of those who hold on to their wealth most tightly? What are they when death comes? No one is excused from that battle.
How far the picture reaches
Commentators differ on whether this woman should be read as more than a woman. One insists the description stands on its own feet, and gains its force from the contrast running through the book.
The last part of the book of Proverbs describes the virtuous woman… There is no need to turn this description into a picture of the Church, as some have done. This virtuous woman stands out in bright contrast. She is set against "the strange woman," the adulteress named again and again in Proverbs.
Others read the passage as a picture, on the ground that in Scripture a wife is described by what her husband is.
The church takes its character from Christ (Eph. 5), and Israel takes its character from their Messiah. In the same way, the wife here takes her character from the man.
Summary
- Fades — Worldly favour is deceitful and beauty is empty. Birth, culture, riches and fame weigh nothing with God.
- Fear — What replaces them is the fear of the Lord, which brings obedience to Him and affection for Him.
- Sees — Looks cannot deceive Him. His eyes go deeper, to the heart. And the heart shows itself in steady daily conduct.
- Praised — The praise is not just her family's. God gives His own approval, and each one will hear it from Him when the Lord comes.
- All — The verse describes a woman, but the lesson is for everyone. A life shaped by pleasing the Lord is the one that lasts.