Add parallel Print Page Options

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
    is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Read full chapter

22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.(A)

Read full chapter

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
    but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.

Read full chapter

A wife of noble character[a] is her husband’s crown,(A)
but a wife who causes shame
is like rottenness in his bones.(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 12:4 Or A wife of quality, or A wife of good character

14 Every wise woman builds her house,
    but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Read full chapter

14 Every wise woman builds her house,(A)
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.(B)

Read full chapter

22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
    and obtains favor of Yahweh.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father.
    A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

Read full chapter

13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin,(A)
and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.(B)

14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,(C)
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Read full chapter

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
    than to share a house with a contentious woman.

Read full chapter

Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.(A)

Read full chapter

19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
    than with a contentious and fretful woman.

Read full chapter

19 Better to live in a wilderness
than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.(A)

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

15 An endless dripping on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike;(A)
16 the one who controls her controls the wind
and grasps oil with his right hand.

Read full chapter

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!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 31:10 Proverbs 31:10-31 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order.

In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character

10 Who can find a wife of noble character?[a](A)
She is far more precious than jewels.[b]
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.(B)
15 She rises while it is still night(C)
and provides food for her household
and portions[c] for her female servants.(D)
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.[d](E)
17 She draws on her strength[e]
and reveals that her arms are strong.(F)
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.(G)
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.(H)
20 Her hands reach[f] out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.(I)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.[g]
22 She makes her own bed coverings;(J)
her clothing is fine linen(K) and purple.(L)
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.(M)
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts[h] to the merchants.
25 Strength(N) and honor are her clothing,(O)
and she can laugh at the time to come.(P)
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom,
and loving instruction[i] is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household(Q)
and is never idle.[j]
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[k] have done noble deeds,
but you surpass them all!” (R)
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,(S)
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor,[l]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a capable wife
  2. 31:10 Vv. 10–31 form an acrostic.
  3. 31:15 Or tasks
  4. 31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors
  5. 31:17 Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
  6. 31:20 Lit Her hand reaches
  7. 31:21 LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
  8. 31:24 Or sashes
  9. 31:26 Or and the teaching of kindness
  10. 31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
  11. 31:29 Lit daughters
  12. 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands