Proverbs 5:15-19
World English Bible
15 Drink water out of your own cistern,
running water out of your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be for yourself alone,
not for strangers with you.
18 Let your spring be blessed.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe and a graceful deer—
let her breasts satisfy you at all times.
Be captivated always with her love.
Proverbs 5:15-19
New Living Translation
15 Drink water from your own well—
share your love only with your wife.[a]
16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
having sex with just anyone?[b]
17 You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.
18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love.
Proverbs 11:16
World English Bible
16 A gracious woman obtains honor,
but violent men obtain riches.
Proverbs 11:16
New Living Translation
16 A gracious woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:22
World English Bible
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Proverbs 11:22
New Living Translation
22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
Proverbs 12:4
World English Bible
4 A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 12:4
New Living Translation
4 A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.
Proverbs 14:1
World English Bible
14 Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Proverbs 14:1
New Living Translation
14 A wise woman builds her home,
but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
Proverbs 18:22
World English Bible
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favor of Yahweh.
Proverbs 18:22
New Living Translation
22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
and he receives favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 21:9
World English Bible
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 21:9
New Living Translation
9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
Proverbs 21:19
World English Bible
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Proverbs 21:19
New Living Translation
19 It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
Proverbs 25:24
World English Bible
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 25:24
New Living Translation
24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
Proverbs 27:15-16
World English Bible
15 A continual dropping on a rainy day
and a contentious wife are alike:
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind,
or like grasping oil in his right hand.
Proverbs 27:15-16
New Living Translation
15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind
or trying to hold something with greased hands.
Proverbs 30:18-19
World English Bible
18 “There are three things which are too amazing for me,
four which I don’t understand:
19 The way of an eagle in the air,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
and the way of a man with a maiden.
Proverbs 30:18-19
New Living Translation
18 There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
19 how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.
Proverbs 31:10-31
World English Bible
10 [a]Who can find a worthy woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her.
He shall have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works eagerly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships.
She brings her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night,
gives food to her household,
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field, and buys it.
With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 She arms her waist with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor;
yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household;
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing.
She laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom.
Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates!
Footnotes
- 31:10 Proverbs 31:10-31 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order.
Proverbs 31:10-31
New Living Translation
A Wife of Noble Character
10 [a]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[b] clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
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