賢慧的妻、是耶和華所賜（箴19章）

房屋錢財、是祖宗所遺留的．惟有賢慧的妻、是耶和華所賜的。（箴 19：14）

在所羅門的箴言中，多次提到「賢慧的妻」，可見這是極端富有的他終生都沒有得著的渴望。世人總是希望財富越多越好，但是財富多卻不能保證幸福，因為人世間有許多幸福，是財富買不到的，像所羅門王一樣。正如本經文的前一節：愚昧的兒子、是父親的禍患．妻子的爭吵、如雨連連滴漏。（箴 19：13），這是在說，即使財富很多，卻出了一個總是在惹麻煩的愚昧的兒子，製造父親的禍患，再多的錢都不夠賠所闖出來的禍；或是娶到了世俗條件很好的女子為妻，可是卻天天爭吵、難以相處，就像永遠修不好的屋頂漏水問題一樣，令人厭煩。

有句話說：「媽媽快樂，全家就快樂。」神創造女人有許多特質，是要用來幫助男人的。例如：女人比較敏感，家中有任何方吹草動，都逃不過女人的「第六感」。察覺了，神給女人過於男人的語言能力，就會開始作動，表現出來的現象就是碎碎念。當然碎念的內容有沒有意義很重要，若是出於愚昧的婦人的口，盡說些沒有意義的話，對家人而言就像屋子漏水一樣，水量雖不大，但是一直滴、一直滴，「噠、噠、噠」的沒完沒了，將十分惱人；但是若是賢慧的妻子，就會適時提出看法，甚至鍥而不捨，問題一定要解決才行。擁有這樣的賢慧的妻子，就是耶和華所賜的，真的是家中的寶貝。

「惟有賢慧的妻、是耶和華所賜的」，可見她是神派來要幫助全家信仰的，她必帶著神的話語與使命。她必不是不懂聖經、毫無知識的沒信仰、沒有信主的人，她也必對信仰有高度的敏感性。聖經說：

你妻子在你的內室、好像多結果子的葡萄樹．你兒女圍繞你的桌子、好像橄欖栽子。（詩 128：3)

這是神藉著詩篇的作者，擘畫出一幅神所要的家庭的景象。神所賜的賢慧的妻子，必專注在家庭的經營上，心永遠在「你的內室」，這內室中有兒有女、有全家的信仰狀況，是她所關注的，而不是世界上自己的職業與工作，或是其他庸俗的功名利祿。神所喜悅的關心，必然是依據聖經真理、合神心意的。家中有重視讀經、靈修的賢妻、母親，必定是家庭的幸福。因為「言教」多從母親而出，孩子的教訓，絕大部分是來自於母親，因為天生做父親的話語相對較少，父親提供較多的是「身教」。

本節經文，對於尚未走入婚姻的青年而言：主內聯婚、主前完婚是得神賞賜賢慧妻子的入門。神不可能賞賜人沒有信主、不知真理的妻子，一個人會遇到這樣的妻子，其實是自找的，絕對不是來自於神的賞賜。未婚的弟兄，當存順服的心，以信仰優先走入婚姻，以信仰為考量的主要依據；對於未婚姐妹而言，特別要充實自己對真理的認識，因為妳影響的是一個家。當天天讀經、禱告預備自己，面對婚姻時也當以信仰為優先考慮，像基督的新婦一樣預備自己，可以成為聖經中神應許要給未來的某個家庭的美麗禮物。

得着賢妻的、是得着好處、也是蒙了耶和華的恩惠。（箴 18：22）

By Isaiah Kao

A Virtuous Wife Is from the LORD (Proverbs 19)

“House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,

But a prudent wife is from the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:14, NASB 2020)

In the proverbs of Solomon, “a prudent wife” is mentioned many times. This shows that, despite his extreme wealth, it was something he longed for throughout his life but never truly obtained. People in the world always hope for more wealth, yet wealth cannot guarantee happiness. There are many kinds of happiness in life that money simply cannot buy, just as it was for King Solomon.

As the previous verse says:

“A foolish son is destruction to his father,

And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.” (Proverbs 19:13, NASB 2020)

This means that even if a person has great wealth, if he has a foolish son who continually causes trouble, no amount of money will be enough to cover the damage; Or if he marries a woman who may appear excellent outwardly, yet is constantly quarrelsome and difficult to live with, it is like a roof that leaks endlessly—drip after drip—never stopping, and always annoying.

There is a saying: “If the mother is happy, the whole family is happy.” God created women with many qualities to help men. For example, women are often more sensitive; any small change in the household rarely escapes their “sixth sense.” Once they notice something, God has also given them stronger verbal expression than men, and so they begin to speak—often appearing as repeated reminders.

Of course, what matters is whether those words carry meaning. If they come from a foolish woman, speaking  meaningless things, it becomes like a leaking roof—each drop may be small, but the constant dripping becomes very annoying. But if it is a virtuous wife, she will speak at the right time and even persist until the problem is truly resolved. To have such a virtuous wife is truly a gift from the LORD—a treasure in the home.

“A prudent wife is from the LORD.”

This shows that she is sent by God to help the entire family in their faith. She carries God’s word and a sense of mission. She is not someone ignorant of the Bible, without knowledge or faith. Rather, she is spiritually sensitive and grounded in truth.

The Bible says:

“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house,

Your children like olive plants around your table.” (Psalm 128:3, NASB 2020)

Through the psalmist, God paints a picture of the kind of family He desires. A virtuous wife given by God will focus on building the home. Her heart remains within “your house”,concerned for her children, the family’s spiritual condition, and their life before God—rather than being centered on worldly careers, achievements, or vain pursuits.

The kind of care that pleases God is always based on biblical truth and aligned with His will. A home with a wife and mother who values Bible reading and spiritual devotion is truly blessed. This is because much of “verbal teaching” comes from the mother. A child’s instruction largely comes from her, while fathers often contribute more through “example” than through words.

For young people who have not yet entered marriage: marrying in the Lord and  entering marriage before Him is the beginning of receiving such a virtuous wife as God’s gift. God will not give someone a wife who does not believe or know the truth. If someone ends up with such a spouse, it is not from God’s gift, but from one’s own choice.

Unmarried brothers should walk in obedience, placing faith as the first priority when entering marriage. For unmarried sisters, it is especially important to grow in the knowledge of the truth, because you will influence an entire household. Prepare yourself daily through Bible reading and prayer. When facing marriage, also place faith first—preparing yourself like the bride of Christ, to become a beautiful gift that God will one day give to a family.

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing

And obtains favor from the LORD.” (Proverbs 18:22, NASB 2020)