Proverbs 5:18
Christian Standard Bible
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.(A)
Proverbs 5:18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth,(A)
Proverbs 12:4
Christian Standard Bible
4 A wife of noble character[a] is her husband’s crown,(A)
but a wife who causes shame
is like rottenness in his bones.(B)
Footnotes
- 12:4 Or A wife of quality, or A wife of good character
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 18:22
Christian Standard Bible
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 19:13-14
Christian Standard Bible
14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,(C)
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Proverbs 19:13-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
13 A stupid child is ruin to a father,
and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.(A)
14 House and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(B)
Proverbs 31:10-31
Christian Standard Bible
In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character
10 Who can find a wife of noble character?[a](A)
She is far more precious than jewels.[b]
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.(B)
15 She rises while it is still night(C)
and provides food for her household
and portions[c] for her female servants.(D)
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.[d](E)
17 She draws on her strength[e]
and reveals that her arms are strong.(F)
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.(G)
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.(H)
20 Her hands reach[f] out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.(I)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.[g]
22 She makes her own bed coverings;(J)
her clothing is fine linen(K) and purple.(L)
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.(M)
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts[h] to the merchants.
25 Strength(N) and honor are her clothing,(O)
and she can laugh at the time to come.(P)
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom,
and loving instruction[i] is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household(Q)
and is never idle.[j]
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[k] have done noble deeds,
but you surpass them all!” (R)
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,(S)
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor,[l]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
Footnotes
- 31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a capable wife
- 31:10 Vv. 10–31 form an acrostic.
- 31:15 Or tasks
- 31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors
- 31:17 Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
- 31:20 Lit Her hand reaches
- 31:21 LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
- 31:24 Or sashes
- 31:26 Or and the teaching of kindness
- 31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
- 31:29 Lit daughters
- 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
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.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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.