22 He who finds a wife finds what is good(A)
    and receives favor from the Lord.(B)

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

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18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
    do not be a willing party to their death.(A)

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The righteous lead blameless lives;(A)
    blessed are their children after them.(B)

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Start(A) children off on the way they should go,(B)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(C)

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

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Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.(A)

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11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(A)
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(B)

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A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(A)
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(B)

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15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
    but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(A)

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17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
    they will bring you the delights you desire.(A)

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Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]A wife of noble character(A) who can find?(B)
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband(C) has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.(D)
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.(E)
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.(F)
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders(G) of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.(H)
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise(I) at the city gate.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

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