Add parallel Print Page Options

15 Drink water out of your own cistern,
    running water out of your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be for yourself alone,
    not for strangers with you.
18 Let your spring be blessed.
    Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe and a graceful deer—
    let her breasts satisfy you at all times.
    Be captivated always with her love.

Read full chapter

16 A gracious woman obtains honor,
    but violent men obtain riches.

Read full chapter

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
    is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Read full chapter

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
    but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.

Read full chapter

14 Every wise woman builds her house,
    but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Read full chapter

22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
    and obtains favor of Yahweh.

Read full chapter

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
    than to share a house with a contentious woman.

Read full chapter

19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
    than with a contentious and fretful woman.

Read full chapter

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
    than to share a house with a contentious woman.

Read full chapter

15 A continual dropping on a rainy day
    and a contentious wife are alike:
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind,
    or like grasping oil in his right hand.

Read full chapter

18 “There are three things which are too amazing for me,
    four which I don’t 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 middle of the sea,
    and the way of a man with a maiden.

Read full chapter

10 [a]Who can find a worthy woman?
    For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her.
    He shall 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 eagerly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships.
    She brings her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night,
    gives food to her household,
    and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field, and buys it.
    With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 She arms her waist with strength,
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor;
    yes, she extends 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 for herself carpets of tapestry.
    Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates,
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing.
    She laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom.
    Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
    and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed.
    Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
    but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands!
    Let her works praise her in the gates!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 31:10 Proverbs 31:10-31 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order.