O papel da mulher
A Bíblia honra a mulher como colaboradora essencial no plano de Deus. De Provérbios 31 às mulheres do Novo Testamento, a Escritura celebra a sabedoria, a força e a fé feminina.
A mulher virtuosa
Mulher virtuosa, quem a achará? Seu valor excede o de rubis. Ela é sábia, trabalhadora, generosa e temida pelo Senhor.
Who can find a strong, capable wife? She’s worth more than jewels!
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he’ll never be poor.
She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
Like a merchant’s ship, she brings food from far away.
She gets up while it’s still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she’s earned she buys a vineyard.
She’s keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
She’s generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
She’s clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
She speaks wise words, and she’s kind when she gives instructions.
She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she’s never idle.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the stupid woman tears it down with her own hands.
My son, pay attention to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.
Beleza interior
A beleza verdadeira não é exterior, mas o caráter incorruptível de um espírito manso e tranquilo. Isso tem grande valor diante de Deus.
Wives, accept your husbands' authority in the same way, so that if some husbands refuse to accept the Word, they may still be won over without words by the way you behave, recognizing your pure and reverent behavior. Don’t focus on outward attractiveness—hairstyles, gold jewelry, or fashionable clothes— instead let it come from within, the lasting attractiveness of a gentle and peaceful spirit on the inside. That’s what God values. This is how holy women of the past who put their confidence in God made themselves beautiful, yielding to their husbands, like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, and called him "lord." You are her daughters if you do what’s good and right and are not intimidated.
Husbands, in just the same way, be considerate to your wives as you live together with them. Though she may not be as strong as you are, you should honor her since she will inherit equally with you God’s gift of life. Make sure to do this so nothing will get in the way of your prayers.
In the same way, women should dress sensibly, modestly, and appropriately. They should be attractive not in their hairstyle or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
Their wives should be respected too. They should not slander people with gossip, and they should be self-controlled and trustworthy in all they do.
Parceria e dignidade
Deus criou homem e mulher à sua imagem. A mulher não é inferior, mas parceira e co-herdeira da graça da vida.
So God created human beings in his own image. He created them in the image of God. He created them male and female. God blessed them and told them, "Reproduce, increase, and spread throughout the earth and control it; exercise authority over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the earth."
Then the Lord God said, "It’s not good for Adam to be alone. I will make someone to help him, someone that’s like him."
He told Eve, "I will make pregnancy much more difficult, and giving birth will be very painful. However, you will still desire your husband, but he will have control over you."
Even so, from the Lord’s perspective, the woman is as essential as the man, and the man as essential as the woman. As the woman came from the man, so the man comes from the woman—but more importantly everything comes from God.
Wives, do what your own husbands tell you to do, as you would if the Lord told you. The husband is head of the wife in the same way as Christ is head of the church—his body and its savior. In the same way that the church does what Christ says, wives should do what their husbands tell them in all things.
Similarly older women ought to behave in a way that shows they live their lives for God. They shouldn’t destroy people’s reputations by what they say, and they shouldn’t be addicted to wine. They should be teachers of what’s good, teaching the young wives to love their husbands and their children. They are to be sensible and pure, working in their homes, doing good and listening to what their husbands tell them. In this way the word of God will not be spoken about badly.