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 5:18
Evangelical Heritage Version
18 Let your fountain be blessed.
Obtain your joy from the wife you married in your youth,
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
Evangelical Heritage Version
4 A wife with strong character is a crown to her husband,
but one who brings shame is like rot in his bones.
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
Evangelical Heritage Version
22 The man who finds a wife finds a good thing,
and he obtains favor 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 19:13-14
Evangelical Heritage Version
Dealing With Fools
13 A foolish son is a disaster to his father,
and a nagging wife is like constantly dripping water.
14 Home and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.
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
Evangelical Heritage Version
The Strong Wife[a]
10 Who can find a wife with strong character?[b]
Her value is greater than that of gems.
11 Her husband’s heart trusts her,
and he never lacks wealth.[c]
12 She does good for him and not evil
all the days of her life.
13 She obtains wool and flax.
She eagerly works it with her hands.
14 She is like merchant ships.
She brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night.
She gives food[d] to her household.
She gives their share to her female servants.
16 She considers a field and acquires it.
From her own income,[e] she plants a vineyard.
17 She wraps strength around her waist like a belt,
and she makes her arms strong.
18 She realizes that she makes a good profit.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands for the distaff,
and the palms of her hands grasp the spindle.[f]
20 She opens the palm of her hand to the oppressed,
and she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She does not fear for her household on account of snow,
because her entire household is clothed in scarlet clothing.[g]
22 She makes bedspreads for herself.
Fine linen and purple cloth are her clothing.
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and she delivers belts to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she laughs at the days to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her household,
and she does not eat bread that she did not work for.
28 Her children rise up and bless her.
Her husband rises up and praises her:
29 “Many daughters show strong character,
but you have surpassed all of them.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is vapor that vanishes,
but a woman who fears the Lord should be praised.
31 Give her credit for the fruit of her hands,
and let her accomplishments praise her in the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:10 This closing poem of the book is an alphabetic acrostic, which means successive verses begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This gives an impression of covering every aspect of the topic from A to Z.
- Proverbs 31:10 Literally a woman of strength. The Hebrew term for strength may refer to economic power, political power, military power, or strong character. Here the emphasis is on her economic contribution to the family, which is a reflection of her dedication to her family and her community.
- Proverbs 31:11 The Hebrew word translated wealth usually refers to loot or spoils of war, not to regular income. Perhaps it highlights her strenuous effort.
- Proverbs 31:15 The word translated food usually refers to prey torn by animals, not to food for humans.
- Proverbs 31:16 Literally the fruit of her hands
- Proverbs 31:19 Distaff and spindle are implements used in spinning thread or yarn.
- Proverbs 31:21 Or, with the ancient versions, double clothing
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.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.