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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far away.(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 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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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 child, and make my heart glad,
    so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.(A)

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

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

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

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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.

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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