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
Revised Standard Version
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?
17 Let them be for yourself alone,
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely hind, a graceful doe.
Let her affection fill you at all times with delight,
be infatuated always with her love.
Proverbs 11:16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 11:16
Revised Standard Version
16 A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
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
Revised Standard Version
22 Like a gold ring in a swine’s snout
is a beautiful woman without 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
Revised Standard Version
4 A good wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness 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
Revised Standard Version
14 Wisdom[a] builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:1 Heb Wisdom of women
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
Revised Standard Version
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains 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
Revised Standard Version
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
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
Revised Standard Version
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful 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
Revised Standard Version
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared 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
Revised Standard Version
15 A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike;
16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind[a]
or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:16 Heb obscure
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
Revised Standard Version
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 serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a maiden.
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
Revised Standard Version
Ode to a Capable Wife
10 A good wife who can find?
She is far more precious than 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 harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her loins 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.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
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 women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.