Proverbs 5:15-19
World English Bible
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.
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
World English Bible
16 A gracious woman obtains honor,
but violent men obtain riches.
Proverbs 11:16
New King James Version
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
Proverbs 11:22
World English Bible
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
is a beautiful woman who lacks 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
World English Bible
4 A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
but a disgraceful wife 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
World English Bible
14 Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish one tears it down with her own 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
World English Bible
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favor of Yahweh.
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
World English Bible
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
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
World English Bible
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
than with a contentious and fretful 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
World English Bible
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
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
World English Bible
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.
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
World English Bible
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.
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
World English Bible
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!
Footnotes
- 31:10 Proverbs 31:10-31 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order.
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
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
