Add parallel Print Page Options

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

14 House and wealth are an (A)inheritance from fathers,
But a wife who has insight is from Yahweh.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

18 (A)Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not [a]direct your soul to put him to death.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:18 Lit lift up

18 Discipline your children while there is hope;
    do not set your heart on their destruction.(A)

Read full chapter

A righteous man who (A)walks in his integrity—
(B)How blessed are his sons after him.

Read full chapter

The righteous walk in integrity—
    happy are the children who follow them!(A)

Read full chapter

[a](A)Train up a child [b]according to his way,
Even when he is old he will not [c]depart from it.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:6 Lit Dedicate
  2. Proverbs 22:6 Or in the way he should go, according to his own way
  3. Proverbs 22:6 Lit turn away

Train children in the right way,
    and when old, they will not stray.(A)

Read full chapter

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;
The (A)rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

13 (A)Do not withhold discipline from the child,
Although you [a]strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall [b]strike him with the rod
And (B)deliver his soul from Sheol.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:13 Lit smite
  2. Proverbs 23:14 Lit smite

13 Do not withhold discipline from your children;
    if you beat them with a rod, they will not die.(A)
14 If you beat them with the rod,
    you will save their lives from Sheol.

Read full chapter

11 (A)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
That I may (B)respond with a word to him who reproaches me.

Read full chapter

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
    so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.(A)

Read full chapter

A man who (A)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who (B)befriends harlots destroys his wealth.

Read full chapter

A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad,
    but a companion of prostitutes destroys wealth.(A)

Read full chapter

15 The (A)rod and reproof give wisdom,
But a child [a]left to himself (B)brings shame to his mother.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:15 Lit set loose

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,
    but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.(A)

Read full chapter

17 (A)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
And he will (B)give delight to your soul.

Read full chapter

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest;
    they will give delight to your heart.(A)

Read full chapter

A Woman Who Fears Yahweh

Aleph

10 [a]An (A)excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far (B)above pearls.

Beth

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.

Gimel

12 She deals bountifully with him for good and not evil
All the days of her life.

Daleth

13 She searches for wool and flax
And works with her [b]hands [c]in delight.

He

14 She is like (C)merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.

Vav

15 And she (D)rises while it is still night,
And (E)gives [d]food to her household
And a [e]portion to her young women.

Zayin

16 She makes plans for a field and buys it;
From the fruit of her [f]hands she plants a vineyard.

Heth

17 She (F)girds [g]herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.

Teth

18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.

Yodh

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her [h]hands hold fast the spindle.

Kaph

20 She [i](G)extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

Lamedh

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are (H)clothed with scarlet.

Mem

22 She makes (I)coverings for herself;
Her clothing is (J)fine linen and (K)purple.

Nun

23 Her husband is known (L)in the gates,
When he sits with the elders of the land.

Samekh

24 She makes (M)linen garments and sells them,
And gives belts to the [j]tradesmen.

Ayin

25 Strength and (N)majesty are her clothing,
And she smiles at the [k]future.

Pe

26 She (O)opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the [l]instruction of lovingkindness is on her tongue.

Tsadhe

27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the (P)bread of [m]idleness.

Qoph

28 Her children rise up and bless her;
As for her husband, he also praises her, saying:

Resh

29 “Many daughters have done excellently,
But you have gone above them all.”

Shin

30 [n]Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who [o](Q)fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.

Tav

31 Give to her from the fruit of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Lit a woman of excellence, a woman of strength
  2. Proverbs 31:13 Lit palms
  3. Proverbs 31:13 Or willingly
  4. Proverbs 31:15 Lit prey
  5. Proverbs 31:15 Or prescribed task
  6. Proverbs 31:16 Lit palms
  7. Proverbs 31:17 Lit her loins
  8. Proverbs 31:19 Lit palms
  9. Proverbs 31:20 Lit spreads out her palm
  10. Proverbs 31:24 Lit Canaanite
  11. Proverbs 31:25 Lit latter days
  12. Proverbs 31:26 Or law
  13. Proverbs 31:27 Lit being a sluggard
  14. Proverbs 31:30 Lit Gracefulness
  15. Proverbs 31:30 Or reverences

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.

Read full chapter