Proverbs 5:15-19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be scattered abroad,
streams of water in the streets?(A)
17 Let them be for yourself alone
and not for sharing with strangers.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth,(B)
19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
May her breasts satisfy you at all times;
may you be intoxicated always by her love.(C)
Proverbs 5:15-19
Common English Bible
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
gushing water from your own well.
16 Should your fountains flood outside,
streams of water in the public squares?
17 They are yours alone,
not for you as well as strangers.
18 May your spring be blessed.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts intoxicate you all the time;
always be drunk on her love.
Proverbs 11:16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 11:16
Common English Bible
16 A gracious woman gains honor;
violent men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without good sense.
Proverbs 11:22
Common English Bible
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s nose
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Proverbs 12:4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 A good wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.(A)
Proverbs 12:4
Common English Bible
4 A strong woman is a crown to her husband,
but a disgraceful woman is like rot in his bones.
Proverbs 14:1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 The wise woman[a] builds her house,
but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
Footnotes
- 14.1 Heb Wisdom of women
Proverbs 14:1
Common English Bible
14 A wise woman builds her house,
while a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.
Proverbs 18:22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.(A)
Proverbs 18:22
Common English Bible
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good,
gaining favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 21:9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious wife.(A)
Proverbs 21:9
Common English Bible
9 Better to live on the edge of a roof
than with a contentious woman in a large house.
Proverbs 21:19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful wife.
Proverbs 21:19
Common English Bible
19 Better to live in a wilderness
than in a house with a contentious and angry woman.
Proverbs 25:24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious wife.(A)
Proverbs 25:24
Common English Bible
24 Better to live on the edge of a roof
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 27:15-16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious wife are alike;(A)
16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind
or to grasp oil in the right hand.[a]
Footnotes
- 27.16 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Proverbs 27:15-16
Common English Bible
15 The constant dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike;
16 anyone who can control her
can control the wind
or pick up oil in his hand.
Proverbs 30:18-19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
18 Three things are too wonderful for me;
four I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a woman.
Proverbs 30:18-19
Common English Bible
18 Three things are too wonderful for me,
four that I can’t figure out:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on the rock,
the way of a ship out on the open sea,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
Proverbs 31:10-31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Ode to a Woman of Strength
10 A woman of strength who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.(A)
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 seeks wool and flax
and works with willing hands.(B)
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her female servants.(C)
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.(D)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all her household are clothed in crimson.(E)
22 She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land.(F)
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchant with sashes.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.(G)
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.(H)
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.(I)
28 Her children rise up and call her happy;
her husband, too, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”(J)
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.(K)
31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Common English Bible
The competent wife
10 A competent wife, how does one find her?
Her value is far above pearls.
11 Her husband entrusts his heart to her,
and with her he will have all he needs.
12 She brings him good and not trouble
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax;
she works joyfully with her hands.
14 She is like a fleet of merchant ships,
bringing food from a distance.
15 She gets up while it is still night,
providing food for her household,
even some for her female servants.
16 She surveys a field and acquires it;
from her own resources, she plants a vineyard.
17 She works energetically;
her arms are powerful.
18 She realizes that her trading is successful;
she doesn’t put out her lamp at night.
19 She puts her hands to the spindle;
her palms grasp the whorl.
20 She reaches out to the needy;
she stretches out her hands to the poor.
21 She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows,
because they are all dressed in warm[a] clothes.
22 She makes bedspreads for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates
when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She makes garments and sells them;
she supplies sashes to traders.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
she is confident about the future.
26 Her mouth is full of wisdom;
kindly teaching is on her tongue.
27 She is vigilant over the activities of her household;
she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.
28 Her children bless her;
her husband praises her:
29 “Many women act competently,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Let her share in the results of her work;
let her deeds praise her in the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:21 LXX; MT red
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible