Proverbs 5:15-19
Modern English Version
15 Drink waters out of your own cistern,
and running waters out of your own well.
16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad,
streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be only your own,
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 Let her be as the loving deer and pleasant doe;
let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
and always be enraptured with her love.
Proverbs 5:15-19
New King James Version
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
And running water from your own well.
16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad,
[a]Streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be only your own,
And not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with (A)the wife of your youth.
19 (B)As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be [b]enraptured with her love.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:16 Channels
- Proverbs 5:19 Lit. intoxicated
Proverbs 11:16
Modern English Version
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
but ruthless men retain riches.
Proverbs 11:16
New King James Version
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
Proverbs 11:22
Modern English Version
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout,
so is a fair woman who is without discretion.
Proverbs 11:22
New King James Version
22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks [a]discretion.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:22 taste
Proverbs 12:4
Modern English Version
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
but she who brings shame is as rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 12:4
New King James Version
4 (A)An[a] excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is (B)like rottenness in his bones.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. A wife of valor
Proverbs 14:1
Modern English Version
14 Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
Proverbs 14:1
New King James Version
The Ways of Life and Death
14 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
Proverbs 18:22
Modern English Version
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favor of the Lord.
Proverbs 18:22
New King James Version
22 (A)He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 21:9
Modern English Version
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop
than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
Proverbs 21:9
New King James Version
9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with (A)a contentious woman.
Proverbs 21:19
Modern English Version
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness
than with a contentious and angry woman.
Proverbs 21:19
New King James Version
19 Better to dwell [a]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:19 Lit. in the land of the desert
Proverbs 25:24
Modern English Version
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
Proverbs 25:24
New King James Version
24 (A)It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 27:15-16
Modern English Version
15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike;
16 whoever restrains her restrains the wind,
and grasps oil in his right hand.
Proverbs 27:15-16
New King James Version
15 A (A)continual dripping on a very rainy day
And a contentious woman are alike;
16 Whoever [a]restrains her restrains the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:16 Lit. hides
Proverbs 30:18-19
Modern English Version
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
indeed, four which I do not know:
19 the way of an eagle in the air,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship in the midst of the sea,
and the way of a man with a maid.
Proverbs 30:18-19
New King James Version
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Yes, four which I do not understand:
19 The way of an eagle in the air,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the [a]midst of the sea,
And the way of a man with a virgin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 30:19 Lit. heart
Proverbs 31:10-31
Modern English Version
Epilogue: The Virtuous Wife
10 Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her,
so that he will have no lack of gain.
12 She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
she brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
and gives food to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She clothes herself with strength,
and strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her candle does not go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretches out her hand to the poor;
yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes herself coverings of tapestry;
her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes fine linen and sells it,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she will rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and in her tongue is the teaching of kindness.
27 She looks well to 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 virtuously,
but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
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.
Proverbs 31:10-31
New King James Version
The Virtuous Wife
10 (A)Who[a] can find a [b]virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 (B)She also rises while it is yet night,
And (C)provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [c]her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 (D)She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 (E)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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:10 Vv. 10–31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew; cf. Ps. 119
- Proverbs 31:10 Lit. a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence
- Proverbs 31:16 Lit. the fruit of her hands
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
