Add parallel Print Page Options

22 He who finds a wife[a] finds good,
    and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:22 Or “woman”

14 A house and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
    but from Yahweh comes a woman[a] who is prudent.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:14 Or “wife”

18 Discipline your child, for there is hope,
    but on his destruction do not set your desire.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:18 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

He who walks in his integrity is righteous;
    happy are his children who follow him.

Read full chapter

Train the child concerning his way;[a]
    even when he is old, he will not stray from it.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:6 Literally “on the mouth of his way”

15 Folly is bound up in the heart[a] of a boy;[b]
    the rod of discipline will drive it[c] from him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:15 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 22:15 Or “young man,” or “adolescent”
  3. Proverbs 22:15 That is, folly

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child,
    if you will beat him with the rod, he will not die.
14 As for you, with the rod you shall beat him,
    and his life[a] you will save from Sheol.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:14 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  2. Proverbs 23:14 A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
    and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.

Read full chapter

A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad,
    but the friend of prostitutes[a] will squander his wealth.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:3 Or “whores”

15 As for a rod and reproof, they[a] will give wisdom,
    but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:15 Hebrew “it”

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest,
    and they will give delight to your soul.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:17 Or “life,” or “inner self”

An Excellent Woman[a]

10 A woman[b] of excellence,[c] who will find?
    For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
11 The heart of her husband[d] trusts in her,
    and gain he will not lack.
12 She does him good, but not harm
    all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
    and she works with the diligence of her hands.[e]
14 She is like the ships of a merchant;
    from far off she brings her food;[f]
15 And she arises while it is still night,
    and gives food to her household,
    and tasks to her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it,
    from the fruit of her hand[g] she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her waist in strength,
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;
    her lamp does not go out in the night.
19 Her hands she puts onto the distaff,[h]
    and her palms hold a spindle.
20 Her palm she opens to the poor,
    and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
21 She does not fear for her house when it snows,
    for her entire household[i] is clothed in crimson.
22 She makes for herself coverings;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband[j] is known at the gates,
    in his seat among the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she makes and sells,
    and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the future.[k]
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
27 She looks after the ways of her household,
    and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
28 Her children rise and consider her happy,
    her husband[l] also, and he praises her;
29 “Many daughters have done excellence,[m]
    but you surpass[n] all of them.”
30 Charm[o] is deceit and beauty[p] is vain;[q]
    but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
    and may they praise her works in the city gates.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem
  2. Proverbs 31:10 Or “wife”
  3. Proverbs 31:10 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
  4. Proverbs 31:11 Or “lord”
  5. Proverbs 31:13 Literally “her palms”
  6. Proverbs 31:14 Or “bread”
  7. Proverbs 31:16 Literally “her palm”
  8. Proverbs 31:19 A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning
  9. Proverbs 31:21 Literally “all her house, household”
  10. Proverbs 31:23 Or “lord”
  11. Proverbs 31:25 Literally “to the day/time coming after”
  12. Proverbs 31:28 Or “lord”
  13. Proverbs 31:29 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
  14. Proverbs 31:29 Literally “you ascend over”
  15. Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “The charm”
  16. Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “the beauty”
  17. Proverbs 31:30 Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”