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

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22 Whoever finds a wife finds what is good,
    and receives favor from the Lord.

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14 House and wealth are an (A)inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

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14 A house and self-sufficiency are a father’s inheritance,
    but from the Lord comes an insightful wife.

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18 (A)Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire [a]his death.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:18 Lit causing him to die

18 Discipline your son while there is still hope—
    but don’t set your heart on his destruction.

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

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The righteous person lives a life of integrity;
    happy are his children who follow him!

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(A)Train up a child [a]in the way he should go,
Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:6 Lit according to his way

Train a child in the way appropriate for him,
    and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it.

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

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15 A child’s heart has a tendency to do wrong,
    but the rod of discipline removes it far away from him.

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13 (A)Do not withhold discipline from a child;
Though you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod
And (B)rescue his soul from Sheol.

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13 Don’t withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish him with a rod,
        he won’t die.
14 Punish him with a rod,
    and you will rescue his soul from Sheol.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:14 I.e. the realm of the dead

11 (A)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
So that I may (B)reply to one who taunts me.

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11 Be wise, my son, and make me happy,
    so I can reply to anyone who insults me.

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A man who (A)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who (B)involves himself with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

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The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
    but anyone who consorts with immoral women squanders his wealth.

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15 The (A)rod and a rebuke give wisdom,
But a child [a]who gets his own way (B)brings shame to his mother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:15 Lit left to himself

15 The rod and rebuke bestow wisdom,
    but an undisciplined child[a] brings shame to his mother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:15 Lit. but a child left alone

17 (A)Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also [a](B)delight your soul.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:17 Lit give delight to

17 Correct your son and he will comfort you;
    he will also delight your soul.

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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

The Honorable Woman

10 Who can find a capable wife?
    Her value far exceeds the finest jewels.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her;
    as a result, he lacks nothing of value.
12 She will bring good to him—never evil—
    every day of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax,
    working with eager hands.
14 She is like a seagoing ship
    that brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night,
    preparing meals for her family
        and providing for her women servants.
16 She evaluates a field and purchases it;
    from the proceeds she plants a vineyard.
17 She clothes herself with fortitude,
    and fortifies her arms with strength.
18 She is confident that her profits are sufficient.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She works with her own hands on her clothes[a]
    her hands work the sewing spindle.
20 She reaches out to the poor,
    opening her hands to those in need.
21 She is unafraid of winter’s effect on[b] her household,
    because all of them are warmly clothed.[c]
22 She creates her own bedding,
    using fine linen and violet cloth.
23 Her husband is well known;[d]
    he sits among the leaders of the land.
24 She designs and sells linen garments,
    supplying accessories[e] to clothiers.
25 Strength and dignity are her garments;
    she smiles about the future.
26 She speaks wisely,
    teaching with gracious love.
27 She looks discretely to the affairs of her household,
    and she is never lazy.[f]
28 Her children stand up and encourage her,
    as does her husband, who praises her:
29 “Many women have done wonderful things,” he says,[g]
    “but you surpass all of them!”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty fades;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Reward her for her work—
    let her actions result in public praise.[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:19 Lit. staff
  2. Proverbs 31:21 Lit. of the snow for
  3. Proverbs 31:21 Lit. are clothed in red
  4. Proverbs 31:23 Lit. is known in the gates
  5. Proverbs 31:24 Or belts
  6. Proverbs 31:27 Lit. she does not eat the food of laziness
  7. Proverbs 31:29 The Heb. lacks he says
  8. Proverbs 31:31 Lit. in praise in the gates