Proverbs 5:15-19
New Living Translation
15 Drink water from your own well—
share your love only with your wife.[a]
16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
having sex with just anyone?[b]
17 You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.
18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love.
Proverbs 5:15-19
International Standard Version
The Delights of Marital Faithfulness
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
and fresh[a] water from your own well.
16 Should your springs flow outside,
or streams of water in the street?
17 They should be for you alone
and not for strangers who are with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed
and enjoy the wife of your youth.
19 Like a loving deer, a beautiful doe,
let her breasts satisfy you all the time.
Be constantly intoxicated by her love.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:15 Lit. flowing
Proverbs 11:16
New Living Translation
16 A gracious woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:16
International Standard Version
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads honor for her husband
- Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads but a seat of dishonor is for the woman who hates justice
- Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads justice. The deficient shrink from wealth, but the diligent support themselves with
Proverbs 11:22
New Living Translation
22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
Proverbs 11:22
International Standard Version
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
Proverbs 12:4
New Living Translation
4 A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.
Proverbs 12:4
International Standard Version
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
but a wife[a] who puts him to shame is like bone cancer.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. but she
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. decay
Proverbs 14:1
New Living Translation
14 A wise woman builds her home,
but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
Proverbs 14:1
International Standard Version
How Wise People Live
14 Every wise woman builds up her household,
but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Proverbs 18:22
New Living Translation
22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
and he receives favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 18:22
International Standard Version
22 Whoever finds a wife finds what is good,
and receives favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 21:9
New Living Translation
9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
Proverbs 21:9
International Standard Version
9 It’s better to live in a corner on the roof
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 21:19
New Living Translation
19 It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
Proverbs 21:19
International Standard Version
19 It’s better to live in the wilderness
than to live with a contentious and irritable woman.
Proverbs 25:24
New Living Translation
24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
Proverbs 25:24
International Standard Version
24 It’s better to live in a corner on the roof
than in a house with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 27:15-16
New Living Translation
15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind
or trying to hold something with greased hands.
Proverbs 27:15-16
International Standard Version
15 A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious wife are alike.
16 Trying to keep her in check is like stopping a wind storm
or grabbing oil with your right hand.
Proverbs 30:18-19
New Living Translation
18 There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
19 how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.
Proverbs 30:18-19
International Standard Version
What Causes Wonder
18 Three things cause wonder for me;
four are beyond my understanding:
19 The way an eagle flies in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
Proverbs 31:10-31
New Living Translation
A Wife of Noble Character
10 [a]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[b] clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
Proverbs 31:10-31
International Standard Version
The Honorable Woman
10 Who can find a capable wife?
Her value far exceeds the finest jewels.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her;
as a result, he lacks nothing of value.
12 She will bring good to him—never evil—
every day of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax,
working with eager hands.
14 She is like a seagoing ship
that brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night,
preparing meals for her family
and providing for her women servants.
16 She evaluates a field and purchases it;
from the proceeds she plants a vineyard.
17 She clothes herself with fortitude,
and fortifies her arms with strength.
18 She is confident that her profits are sufficient.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She works with her own hands on her clothes[a]—
her hands work the sewing spindle.
20 She reaches out to the poor,
opening her hands to those in need.
21 She is unafraid of winter’s effect on[b] her household,
because all of them are warmly clothed.[c]
22 She creates her own bedding,
using fine linen and violet cloth.
23 Her husband is well known;[d]
he sits among the leaders of the land.
24 She designs and sells linen garments,
supplying accessories[e] to clothiers.
25 Strength and dignity are her garments;
she smiles about the future.
26 She speaks wisely,
teaching with gracious love.
27 She looks discretely to the affairs of her household,
and she is never lazy.[f]
28 Her children stand up and encourage her,
as does her husband, who praises her:
29 “Many women have done wonderful things,” he says,[g]
“but you surpass all of them!”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty fades;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Reward her for her work—
let her actions result in public praise.[h]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:19 Lit. staff
- Proverbs 31:21 Lit. of the snow for
- Proverbs 31:21 Lit. are clothed in red
- Proverbs 31:23 Lit. is known in the gates
- Proverbs 31:24 Or belts
- Proverbs 31:27 Lit. she does not eat the food of laziness
- Proverbs 31:29 The Heb. lacks he says
- Proverbs 31:31 Lit. in praise in the gates
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
