“Strength and dignity are her clothing”: Scott takes this line as referring literally to clothing (“Her clothing is of good quality and elegant”), but others take it as figurative language. The term “Strength” refers to physical strength in verse 17, but here it seems to mean strength of character. “Dignity” probably should be taken as meaning “honor” in this context; it describes a quality of character that people praise or respect. To say that qualities “are her clothing” or “She is clothed in [them]” (New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible) means that she shows those qualities in her life. This is simply expressed as “She is strong and respected” (Good News Translation).

“And she laughs at the time to come”: “The time to come” is literally “the day afterwards,” and this simply means “the future” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). To say that “she laughs at” the future may mean that she is “not afraid of the future” (Good News Translation), but it may also have the sense of “happily looks forward to. . .” (Scott).

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .