Proverbs 31:8-17

English Standard Version

^8 (A)Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.^[a]
9 Open your mouth, ^(B)judge righteously,
    ^(C)defend the rights of ^(D)the poor and needy.

^{10 [b] (E)}An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than ^(F)jewels.
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 ^(G)seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She ^(H)rises while it is yet night
    and ^(I)provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She ^(J)dresses herself^[c] with strength
    and makes her arms strong.