Proverbs 31:10, 25–31 — A Woman That Feareth the Lord

Why families choose it

The oldest thanksgiving for a woman’s working life — in Jewish homes these verses are still sung to the woman of the house every Sabbath evening. It praises what obituaries often miss: work, good sense, a tongue governed by kindness, children who rise up and say so. And it ends with an instruction the funeral itself obeys — ‘let her own works praise her in the gates.’ Reading it aloud is doing exactly what the verse asks.

Reading it aloud

This reading belongs to family — it lands differently when a child or grandchild says ‘her children arise up, and call her blessed’ about their own mother, so be ready for that line before you reach it. Pause after the opening question; the reading then jumps to the portrait. Speak ‘thou excellest them all’ to her, not about her — it is the one line addressed directly.

In the programme, list it in the order of service as “Scripture Reading — Proverbs 31:10, 25–31” with the reader’s name beside it. The full text is public domain and may be printed on the life-story or back page.