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

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

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14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

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

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18 Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    don’t be a willing party to his death.

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18 Discipline your son while there is hope;
don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:18 Lit don’t lift up your soul to his death

A righteous man walks in integrity.
    Blessed are his children after him.

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A righteous person acts with integrity;(A)
his children who come after him will be happy.(B)

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Train up a child in the way he should go,
    and when he is old he will not depart from it.

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Start a youth out on his way;(A)
even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

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15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child:
    the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

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15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;
a rod of discipline will separate it from him.(A)

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13 Don’t withhold correction from a child.
    If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14 Punish him with the rod,
    and save his soul from Sheol.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 23:14 Sheol is the place of the dead.

13 Don’t withhold discipline from a youth;
if you punish him with a rod, he will not die.(A)
14 Punish him with a rod,
and you will rescue his life from Sheol.(B)

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11 Be wise, my son,
    and bring joy to my heart,
    then I can answer my tormentor.

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11 Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,(A)
so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.(B)

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Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father;
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

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A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(A)
but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth.(B)

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15 The rod of correction gives wisdom,
    but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

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15 A rod of correction imparts wisdom,(A)
but a youth left to himself[a]
is a disgrace to his mother.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:15 Lit youth sent away

17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace;
    yes, he will bring delight to your soul.

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17 Discipline your child,(A) and it will bring you peace of mind
and give you delight.

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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!

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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.

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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