Proverbs 31:10-31
Lexham English Bible
An Excellent Woman[a]
10 A woman[b] of excellence,[c] who will find?
For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
11 The heart of her husband[d] trusts in her,
and gain he will not lack.
12 She does him good, but not harm
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and she works with the diligence of her hands.[e]
14 She is like the ships of a merchant;
from far off she brings her food;[f]
15 And she arises while it is still night,
and gives food to her household,
and tasks to her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it,
from the fruit of her hand[g] she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her waist in strength,
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her lamp does not go out in the night.
19 Her hands she puts onto the distaff,[h]
and her palms hold a spindle.
20 Her palm she opens to the poor,
and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
21 She does not fear for her house when it snows,
for her entire household[i] is clothed in crimson.
22 She makes for herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband[j] is known at the gates,
in his seat among the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she makes and sells,
and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the future.[k]
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
27 She looks after the ways of her household,
and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
28 Her children rise and consider her happy,
her husband[l] also, and he praises her;
29 “Many daughters have done excellence,[m]
but you surpass[n] all of them.”
30 Charm[o] is deceit and beauty[p] is vain;[q]
but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
and may they praise her works in the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:10 Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem
- Proverbs 31:10 Or “wife”
- Proverbs 31:10 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
- Proverbs 31:11 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 31:13 Literally “her palms”
- Proverbs 31:14 Or “bread”
- Proverbs 31:16 Literally “her palm”
- Proverbs 31:19 A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning
- Proverbs 31:21 Literally “all her house, household”
- Proverbs 31:23 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 31:25 Literally “to the day/time coming after”
- Proverbs 31:28 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 31:29 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
- Proverbs 31:29 Literally “you ascend over”
- Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “The charm”
- Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “the beauty”
- Proverbs 31:30 Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”
Proverbs 31:10-31
New American Standard Bible
Description of a Worthy Woman
10 An (A)excellent wife, who can find her?
For her worth is far (B)above 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 evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and linen,
And works with her [a]hands [b]in delight.
14 She is like (C)merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 And she (D)rises while it is still night
And (E)gives food to her household,
And [c]portions to her attendants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [d]her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She (F)surrounds her waist with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her profit is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the [e]distaff,
And her [f]hands grasp the spindle.
20 She [g](G)extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are (H)clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes (I)coverings for herself;
Her clothing is (J)fine linen and (K)purple.
23 Her husband is known (L)in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes (M)linen garments and sells them,
And [h]supplies belts to the [i]tradesmen.
25 Strength and (N)dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the [j]future.
26 She (O)opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the [k]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household,
And does not eat the (P)bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who [l](Q)fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the [m]product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:13 Lit palms
- Proverbs 31:13 Or willingly
- Proverbs 31:15 Or prescribed tasks
- Proverbs 31:16 Lit the fruit of her palms
- Proverbs 31:19 I.e., the staff that holds the textile fibers for spinning
- Proverbs 31:19 Lit palms
- Proverbs 31:20 Lit spreads out her palm
- Proverbs 31:24 Lit gives
- Proverbs 31:24 Lit Canaanite
- Proverbs 31:25 Lit latter days
- Proverbs 31:26 Or law
- Proverbs 31:30 Or reveres
- Proverbs 31:31 Lit fruit
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
