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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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22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
    and he receives favor from the Lord.

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

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14 Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth,
    but only the Lord can give an understanding wife.

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

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18 Discipline your children while there is hope.
    Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

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

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The godly walk with integrity;
    blessed are their children who follow them.

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

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Direct your children onto the right path,
    and when they are older, they will not leave it.

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

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15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,
    but physical discipline will drive it far away.

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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.

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13 Don’t fail to discipline your children.
    The rod of punishment won’t kill them.
14 Physical discipline
    may well save them from death.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 23:14 Hebrew from Sheol.

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

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11 Be wise, my child,[a] and make my heart glad.
    Then I will be able to answer my critics.

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Footnotes

  1. 27:11 Hebrew my son.

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

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The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
    but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted.

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

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15 To discipline a child produces wisdom,
    but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.

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

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17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind
    and will make your heart glad.

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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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A Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
    She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
    and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax
    and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
    and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
    with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
    a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
    her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
    her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
    and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
    for everyone has warm[b] clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.
    She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
    where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
    and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
    and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
    and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
    and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.
    Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
    but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
    Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

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Footnotes

  1. 31:10 Verses 10-31 comprise a Hebrew acrostic poem; each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. 31:21 As in Greek and Latin versions; Hebrew reads scarlet.