The final devotion in our Proverbs 31 series: why the woman who fears the Lord deserves to have her deeds, not just appreciated quietly, but publicly praised.

“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but only my daily bread” (Proverbs 30:8). Why the writer’s prayer for just enough, not too much and not too little, is a lesson in contentment.

“Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord” (Proverbs 29:26). Why true justice can’t be found in courts or officials alone.

“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person” (Proverbs 27:19). What stillness reveals about the truth of who we really are.

“Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25). Attitudes are contagious; choose your close associations carefully.

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31). Preparations apart from the Lord are always incomplete.

“The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act” (Proverbs 21:29). There’s only one you in the entire universe, so stay true to who God created you to be.

“Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give” (Proverbs 21:26). The trap of taking is that it never satisfies; the blessing is in giving.

“Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble” (Proverbs 21:23). It takes effort, concentration, and sometimes the help of others.

“The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead” (Proverbs 21:16). There are some things that are just not good to do or attempt.

“Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers” (Proverbs 21:15). Live in such a way that the presence of the Lord brings joy, not terror.

“Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap” (Proverbs 21:6). Those who trade in lies to build their own wealth will meet their day of reckoning.

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5). Luck is when preparedness meets opportunity.

“Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin” (Proverbs 21:4). Pride is anchored in selfishness; the antidote is to think of others as better than ourselves.

“Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice” (Proverbs 20:18). There’s a difference between gaining counsel and building consensus.

“Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out” (Proverbs 20:5). Sometimes the treasure of good counsel needs to be mined.

“Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise” (Proverbs 20:1). A simple question worth sitting with: how is your relationship with alcohol affecting your life?

“If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser” (Proverbs 19:25). A lead foot and a few speeding tickets taught this lesson the hard way.

“Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death” (Proverbs 19:16). Disobedience can lead to disaster — even when the warning has been given twenty times.

“Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!” (Proverbs 19:6). The heart behind a gift matters more than the gift itself — is it to bless, or to win something back?