Beauty and Goodness
Clement Dukes, M.A. Proverbs 31:30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised. I. THE APPROBATION TO BE DESIRED. The love of approbation is at once a virtuous and a powerful motive. It includes the approbation of God and of good men. Some, however, cherish the love of approbation too much, and will sacrifice principle in order to obtain it. It is a dangerous thing to have the approval of every one; it is apt to make us careless, proud, or indifferent. II. THE FALSE MEANS WHICH ARE SOMETIMES RELIED ON TO SECURE THIS END. "Favour" means a graceful manner, demeanour, and deportment. "Beauty" refers to the countenance. We may thank God for beauty of person and elegance of manner as for any other of the blessings of this life. Used rightly, beauty may be a virtue, but perverted it becomes a source of great and awful evil. III. THE CERTAIN AND ONLY ROAD TO APPROBATION. The woman who wishes to be praised must cultivate religious principle. Women are apt to attach undue importance to the external and to neglect the spiritual. Beauty without goodness passes away like a vapour, and leaves no trace behind; or if it succeeds in being remembered, it is only that it may be despised and abhorred. (Clement Dukes, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. WEB: Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.