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22 Whoever finds a wife finds what is good,
    and receives favor from the Lord.

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22 He who finds a wife finds what is good(A)
    and receives favor from the Lord.(B)

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14 A house and self-sufficiency are a father’s inheritance,
    but from the Lord comes an insightful wife.

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14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,(A)
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(B)

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18 Discipline your son while there is still hope—
    but don’t set your heart on his destruction.

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18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
    do not be a willing party to their death.(A)

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The righteous person lives a life of integrity;
    happy are his children who follow him!

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The righteous lead blameless lives;(A)
    blessed are their children after them.(B)

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Train a child in the way appropriate for him,
    and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it.

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Start(A) children off on the way they should go,(B)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(C)

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15 A child’s heart has a tendency to do wrong,
    but the rod of discipline removes it far away from him.

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15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(A)

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13 Don’t withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish him with a rod,
        he won’t die.
14 Punish him with a rod,
    and you will rescue his soul from Sheol.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:14 I.e. the realm of the dead

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.(A)

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11 Be wise, my son, and make me happy,
    so I can reply to anyone who insults me.

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11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(A)
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(B)

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The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
    but anyone who consorts with immoral women squanders his wealth.

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A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(A)
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(B)

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15 The rod and rebuke bestow wisdom,
    but an undisciplined child[a] brings shame to his mother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:15 Lit. but a child left alone

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
    but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(A)

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17 Correct your son and he will comfort you;
    he will also delight your soul.

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17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
    they will bring you the delights you desire.(A)

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The Honorable Woman

10 Who can find a capable wife?
    Her value far exceeds the finest jewels.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her;
    as a result, he lacks nothing of value.
12 She will bring good to him—never evil—
    every day of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax,
    working with eager hands.
14 She is like a seagoing ship
    that brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night,
    preparing meals for her family
        and providing for her women servants.
16 She evaluates a field and purchases it;
    from the proceeds she plants a vineyard.
17 She clothes herself with fortitude,
    and fortifies her arms with strength.
18 She is confident that her profits are sufficient.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She works with her own hands on her clothes[a]
    her hands work the sewing spindle.
20 She reaches out to the poor,
    opening her hands to those in need.
21 She is unafraid of winter’s effect on[b] her household,
    because all of them are warmly clothed.[c]
22 She creates her own bedding,
    using fine linen and violet cloth.
23 Her husband is well known;[d]
    he sits among the leaders of the land.
24 She designs and sells linen garments,
    supplying accessories[e] to clothiers.
25 Strength and dignity are her garments;
    she smiles about the future.
26 She speaks wisely,
    teaching with gracious love.
27 She looks discretely to the affairs of her household,
    and she is never lazy.[f]
28 Her children stand up and encourage her,
    as does her husband, who praises her:
29 “Many women have done wonderful things,” he says,[g]
    “but you surpass all of them!”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty fades;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Reward her for her work—
    let her actions result in public praise.[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:19 Lit. staff
  2. Proverbs 31:21 Lit. of the snow for
  3. Proverbs 31:21 Lit. are clothed in red
  4. Proverbs 31:23 Lit. is known in the gates
  5. Proverbs 31:24 Or belts
  6. Proverbs 31:27 Lit. she does not eat the food of laziness
  7. Proverbs 31:29 The Heb. lacks he says
  8. Proverbs 31:31 Lit. in praise in the gates

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.
11 Her husband(C) has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.(D)
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.(E)
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.(F)
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders(G) of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.(H)
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
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(I) at the city gate.

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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.