“She makes herself coverings”: This is another aspect of the provision this skillful woman makes for her household. The term “coverings” is the same term found in 7.16, where it refers to bedspreads. New International Version says “coverings for her bed” here, while Good News Translation has “bedspreads,” New Jerusalem Bible “quilts,” Scott “bedcovers,” and some translations in other languages “blankets.”

“Her clothing is fine linen and purple”: “Fine linen” was a fine (high quality) cloth made from flax, and “purple” an expensive dye or coloring material. This line is a description of clothes that indicate wealth and/or high rank. In English it is more naturally expressed as “[she] wears clothes of fine purple linen” (Good News Translation) or “she is dressed in fine linen and purple” (New Jerusalem Bible). Contemporary English Version expresses the essential meaning with “everything she wears is beautiful.”

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 .