22 As a (A)ring of gold in a pig’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

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22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without good sense.

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An [a](A)excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like (B)rottenness in his bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:4 Or virtuous

A good wife is the crown of her husband,
    but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.(A)

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Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

14 The (A)wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

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14 The wise woman[a] builds her house,
    but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

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Footnotes

  1. 14.1 Heb Wisdom of women

22 He who finds a (A)wife finds a good thing
And (B)obtains favor from the Lord.

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22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing
    and obtains favor from the Lord.(A)

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13 A (A)foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the (B)quarrels of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an (C)inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

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13 A stupid child is ruin to a father,
    and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.(A)
14 House and wealth are inherited from parents,
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(B)

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It is better to live on a corner of a roof
Than [a]in a house shared with a contentious woman.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:9 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a contentious wife.(A)

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19 (A)It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and irritating woman.

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19 It is better to live in a desert land
    than with a contentious and fretful wife.

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15 A (A)constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious woman are alike;
16 He who would [a]restrain her [b]restrains the wind,
And [c]grasps oil with his right hand.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:16 Lit hide(s)
  2. Proverbs 27:16 Lit hide(s)
  3. Proverbs 27:16 Lit encounters

15 A continual dripping on a rainy day
    and a contentious wife are alike;(A)
16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind
    or to grasp oil in the right hand.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 27.16 Meaning of Heb uncertain

Description of a Worthy Woman

10 An (A)excellent wife, who can find her?
For her worth is far (B)above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and linen,
And works with her [a]hands [b]in delight.
14 She is like (C)merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 And she (D)rises while it is still night
And (E)gives food to her household,
And [c]portions to her attendants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [d]her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She (F)surrounds her waist with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her profit is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the [e]distaff,
And her [f]hands grasp the spindle.
20 She [g](G)extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are (H)clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes (I)coverings for herself;
Her clothing is (J)fine linen and (K)purple.
23 Her husband is known (L)in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes (M)linen garments and sells them,
And [h]supplies belts to the [i]tradesmen.
25 Strength and (N)dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the [j]future.
26 She (O)opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the [k]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household,
And does not eat the (P)bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who [l](Q)fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the [m]product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:13 Lit palms
  2. Proverbs 31:13 Or willingly
  3. Proverbs 31:15 Or prescribed tasks
  4. Proverbs 31:16 Lit the fruit of her palms
  5. Proverbs 31:19 I.e., the staff that holds the textile fibers for spinning
  6. Proverbs 31:19 Lit palms
  7. Proverbs 31:20 Lit spreads out her palm
  8. Proverbs 31:24 Lit gives
  9. Proverbs 31:24 Lit Canaanite
  10. Proverbs 31:25 Lit latter days
  11. Proverbs 31:26 Or law
  12. Proverbs 31:30 Or reveres
  13. Proverbs 31:31 Lit fruit

Ode to a Woman of Strength

10 A woman of strength who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.(A)
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will 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 with willing hands.(B)
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night
    and provides food for her household
    and tasks for her female servants.(C)
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.(D)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
    for all her household are clothed in crimson.(E)
22 She makes herself coverings;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates,
    taking his seat among the elders of the land.(F)
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she supplies the merchant with sashes.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.(G)
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.(H)
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.(I)
28 Her children rise up and call her happy;
    her husband, too, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”(J)
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.(K)
31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the city gates.

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