A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

A gracious woman retaineth honour; and strong men retain riches. The Hebrew for "strong men" [ `aariytsiym (H6184)] is usually taken in a bad, sense (Kimchi). As violent men retain with a "strong" grasp their riches, so "a gracious woman" retains with the same tenacity her honour. What force effects for the strong, in respect to what they value most namely, riches, that grace and virtue (Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 3:22) effect for "a gracious woman" in securing against ever assailant what she values most, namely, her "honour." Her grace is not merely the perishing grace of the body, but the enduring grace of the soul (Proverbs 31:30). It is not dress, worldly vanities, or admiration of lovers that she obtains and retains "honor," but by spiritual and internal graces.

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