23 (A)Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

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23 Her husband[a] 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.[b]
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[c] also, and he praises her;
29 “Many daughters have done excellence,[d]
    but you surpass[e] all of them.”
30 Charm[f] is deceit and beauty[g] is vain;[h]
    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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:23 Or “lord”
  2. Proverbs 31:25 Literally “to the day/time coming after”
  3. Proverbs 31:28 Or “lord”
  4. Proverbs 31:29 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
  5. Proverbs 31:29 Literally “you ascend over”
  6. Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “The charm”
  7. Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “the beauty”
  8. Proverbs 31:30 Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”