Proverbs 31:10-31

New International Version

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

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

1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

New International Version

²⁷Now you are the body of Christ,^(A) and each one of you is a part of it.^(B) ²⁸And God has placed in the church^(C) first of all apostles,^(D) second prophets,^(E) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,^(F) of helping, of guidance,^(G) and of different kinds of tongues.^(H) ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[a]?^(I) Do all interpret? ³¹Now eagerly desire^(J) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues^[b]^(K) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy^(L) and can fathom all mysteries^(M) and all knowledge,^(N) and if I have a faith^(O) that can move mountains,^(P) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor^(Q) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[c]^(R) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient,^(S) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^(T) ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(U) it is not easily angered,^(V) it keeps no record of wrongs.^(W) ⁶Love does not delight in evil^(X) but rejoices with the truth.^(Y) ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(Z)

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(AA) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(AB) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part^(AC) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when completeness comes,^(AD) what is in part disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood^(AE) behind me. ¹²For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(AF) then we shall see face to face.^(AG) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(AH)