Woman of Valor

Eshet Chayil (Woman of Valor) Prayer

Woman of Valor is the ultimate compliment a man can give his wife.

The Eshet Chayil is a poem lauding a woman’s inner beauty and elevates her attributes of kindness, generosity, honor, integrity, and dignity.  

One reference to a Woman of Valor appears in the Book of Ruth, which tells the story of the convert Ruth and her journey with her mother-in-law Naomi and marriage to Boaz. When Boaz refers to Ruth as an Eshet Chayil, it makes her the only woman in all the books of the Bible to be referred to as such.

The poem derives from Proverbs (Mishlei) 31:10-31, which is believed to have been written by King Solomon.

We have carefully created our artwork so that according with Jewish law (Halachah) it is permissible to wear your jewelry piece anywhere (including a restroom). This was done by substituting the Hebrew letter ‘ה (Hey) in place of Hashem’s holy name YKVK (the Tetragrammaton). The image below is exactly what you will see when peering into the crystal cabochon.

 

Translated:

A woman of valor, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her value. Her husband’s heart trusts in her and he shall lack no fortune.
She repays his good, but never his harm, all the days of her life. She seeks out wool and linen, and her hands work willingly.
She is like a merchant’s ships; from afar she brings her sustenance She rises while it is still nighttime, and gives food to her household and a ration to her maids
She considers a field and buys it; from the fruit of her handiwork she plants a vineyard. She girds her loins with might and strengthens her arms.
She senses that her enterprise is good, so her lamp is not extinguished at night.                                             She puts her hand to the distaff, and her palms support the spindle.
She spreads out her palm to the poor and extends her hands to the destitute. She fears not snow for her household, for her entire household is clothed with scarlet wool.
Bedspreads she makes herself; linen and purple wool are her clothing. Well-known at the gates is her husband as he sits with the elders of the land
Garments she makes and sells, and she delivers a belt to the peddler. Strength and splendor are her clothing, and smilingly she awaits her last day
She opens her mouth with Wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She anticipates the needs of her household, and the bread of idleness, she does not eat.
Her children rise and celebrate her; and her husband, he praises her: “Many daughters have attained valor, but you have surpassed them all.”
False is grace, and vain is beauty; a G‑d-fearing woman, she should be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and she will be praised at the gates by her very own deeds.