How Beautiful is She!

Beautiful is she when she looketh in the glass,

Beautiful is she when she walketh among men,

Beautiful is she in the fairness of her face,

Beautiful is she in the garments that she weareth?

But how much more beautiful is she when no eye beholdeth her,

When the glass is silent and the eyes of men are gone?

What beauty remaineth when outward beauty fadeth,

And what shall endure when the years have passed away?

Oh, let it be known that beauty is not outwardly,

Neither is it found alone in the sight of men;

For beauty is not only in the face that turneth heads,

Nor only in the form that draweth every eye.

But beauty is found in the heart that feareth God,

And beauty is found in the soul that walketh true;

It is found in the lips that speak with kindness,

And in the tongue that speaketh truth without deceit.

It is found in the knees that bow in secret prayer,

And in the heart that seeketh God when none is near;

It is found in the hands that labour without praise,

And in the hands that serve when none beholdeth them.

How beautiful is she when she chooseth what is right,

When she remaineth humble though men speak her praise;

How beautiful is she when she suffereth in patience,

And when she showeth mercy where none would expect?

For what availeth beauty that is seen of men,

If the heart within be far from God above?

And what is a lovely face that passeth with the years,

Compared with a beauty that fadeth not away?

Blessed is she whose beauty is known before the Lord,

Whose heart is adorned with a meek and faithful spirit;

For the beauty of the flesh shall surely pass away,

But the beauty of a godly heart shall remain.