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.

Jeremiah 11:18-20

New International Version

Plot Against Jeremiah

¹⁸Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. ¹⁹I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter;^(A) I did not realize that they had plotted^(B) against me, saying,

“Let us destroy the tree and its fruit;
    let us cut him off from the land of the living,^(C)
    that his name be remembered^(D) no more.”
²⁰But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously^(E)
    and test the heart^(F) and mind,^(G)
let me see your vengeance^(H) on them,
    for to you I have committed my cause.

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James 3:13-4:3

New International Version

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it^(A) by their good life, by deeds^(B) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition^(C) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.^(D) ¹⁵Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(E) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^(F) ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(G) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(H) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(I) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(J) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^(K) ¹⁸Peacemakers^(L) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(M)

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels^(N) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle^(O) within you? ²You desire but do not have, so you kill.^(P) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³When you ask, you do not receive,^(Q) because you ask with wrong motives,^(R) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:7-8

New International Version

⁷Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(A) and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(B) Wash your hands,^(C) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(D) you double-minded.^(E)

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Mark 9:30-37

New International Version

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time^(A)

³⁰They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man^(B) is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him,^(C) and after three days^(D) he will rise.”^(E) ³²But they did not understand what he meant^(F) and were afraid to ask him about it.

³³They came to Capernaum.^(G) When he was in the house,^(H) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.^(I)

³⁵Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”^(J)

³⁶He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms,^(K) he said to them, ³⁷“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”^(L)

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