Bridges on Proverbs 11:16
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 11:16
 
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16.  A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
 
Everywhere the excellency of godliness meets our eyes. What loveliness, dignity, and influence does it impart to the female character! (Chapter 31:10.) A gracious woman is known, not by her outward beauty (Ib. 30), but by her “inner becoming ornaments” (1 Timothy 2:9, 10. 1 Peter 3:3, 4); which remain in full lustre, when external accomplishments have faded away. (Chapter 31:25.) And though “the weaker vessel,” she retaineth honour, as firmly as strong men retain riches. She preserves her character unblemished. (Ruth 3:11.) She wins her children (Chapter 31:28) — perhaps her ungodly husband (Ib. Verses 12, 28. 1 Peter 3:1, 2) — into the ways of holiness. Thus Deborah retained honour as “a mother in Israel,” the Counsellor and the stay of a sinking people. (Judges 4:4; 5:7.) Esther retained her influence over her heathen husband for the good of her nation. (Esther 9:12, 13, 25.) And still the gracious woman retaineth honour long after she has mingled with the dust. Sarah the obedient wife (1 Peter 3:5, 6); Hannah the consecrating mother (1 Samuel 1:28); Lois, Eunice, and “the elect lady” (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15. 2 John 1-4), in the family sphere; Phoebe and her companions in the annals of the Church (Romans 16:2-6. Philippians 4:3); the rich contributor to the temple (Mark 12:42-44); the self-denying lover of her Lord (Ib. 14:3-9); Mary in contemplative retirement (Luke 10:39); Dorcas in active usefulness (Acts 9:36): — Are not these “good names” still had in honourable remembrance? (Psalm 112:6.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 31:10
10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
 
 
Proverbs 31:30
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
 
 
1 Timothy 2:9, 10
1
9 ¶ In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; {broided: or, plaited} 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
 
1 Peter 3:3, 4
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
 
 
Proverbs 31:25
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
 
 
Ruth 3:11
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. {city: Heb. gate}
 
 
Proverbs 31:28
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
 
 
Proverbs 31:12, 28
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
 
1 Peter 3:1, 2
1 ¶ Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
 
 
Judges 4:4
4 ¶ And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
 
Judges 5:7
7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
 
 
Esther 9:12, 13, 25
12 And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. 13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. {let Haman's...: Heb. let men hang, etc} 25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. {when...: Heb. when she came}
 
 
1 Peter 3:5, 6
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. {daughters: Gr. children}
 
 
1 Samuel 1:28
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. {lent him: or, returned him, whom I have obtained by petition} {he shall...: or, he whom I have obtained by petition shall be returned}
 
 
2 Timothy 1:5
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
 
2 Timothy 3:15
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
 
2 John 1-4
1 ¶ The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. {be: Gr. shall be} 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
 
 
Romans 16:2-6
2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
 
Philippians 4:3
3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
 
 
Mark 12:42-44
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. {mites: it is the seventh part of one piece of that brass money} 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
 
 
Mark 14:3-9
3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. {spikenard: or, pure nard, or, liquid nard} 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
 
 
Luke 10:39
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
 
 
Acts 9:36
36 ¶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. {Dorcas: or, Doe, or, Roe}
 
 
Psalm 112:6
6 ¶ Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.