Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; (A)he was a Calebite.

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His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail.(A) She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.(B)

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14 (A)The wisest of women (B)builds her house,
    but folly with her own hands (C)tears it down.

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14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

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(A)The fool will no more be called noble,
    nor the scoundrel said to be honorable.
For (B)the fool speaks folly,
    and his heart is busy with iniquity,
to practice ungodliness,
    to utter error concerning the Lord,
(C)to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied,
    and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
As for the scoundrel—(D)his devices are evil;
    he plans wicked schemes
to ruin the poor with lying words,
    even when the plea of the needy is right.

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No longer will the fool(A) be called noble
    nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
For fools speak folly,(B)
    their hearts are bent on evil:(C)
They practice ungodliness(D)
    and spread error(E) concerning the Lord;
the hungry they leave empty(F)
    and from the thirsty they withhold water.
Scoundrels use wicked methods,(G)
    they make up evil schemes(H)
to destroy the poor with lies,
    even when the plea of the needy(I) is just.(J)

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The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 [a] (A)An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than (B)jewels.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]A wife of noble character(A) who can find?(B)
    She is worth far more than rubies.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

30 (A)Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.

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30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise(A) at the city gate.

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For the wicked (A)boasts of the desires of his soul,
    and the one greedy for gain (B)curses[a] and (C)renounces the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 10:3 Or and he blesses the one greedy for gain

He boasts(A) about the cravings of his heart;
    he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.(B)

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26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

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26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.(A)

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17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, (A)for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such (B)a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.”

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17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked(A) man that no one can talk to him.”

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10 And Nabal answered David's servants, (A)“Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? (B)There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. 11 Shall I take (C)my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to (D)men who come from I do not know where?”

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10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who(A) is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread(B) and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”

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14 (A)We had made a raid against the Negeb of (B)the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

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14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites,(A) some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb.(B) And we burned(C) Ziklag.”

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13 According to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, (A)Kiriath-arba, that is, (B)Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).

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13 In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb(A) son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba(B), that is, Hebron.(C) (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)(D)

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