Proverbs 31:10-31

Contemporary English Version

¹⁴ She is like a sailing ship
that brings food
    from across the sea.
¹⁵ She gets up before daylight
to prepare food for her family
    and for her servants.^[a]
16 She knows how to buy land
and how to plant a vineyard,
¹⁷     and she always works hard.
¹⁸ She knows when to buy or sell,
and she stays busy
    until late at night.
¹⁹ She spins her own cloth,
²⁰ and she helps the poor
    and the needy.
²¹ Her family has warm clothing,
and so she doesn't worry
    when it snows.
²² She does her own sewing,
and everything she wears
    is beautiful.

²³ Her husband is a well-known
and respected leader
    in the city.
²⁴ She makes clothes to sell
    to the shop owners.
²⁵ She is strong and graceful,^[b]
as well as cheerful
    about the future.
²⁶ Her words are sensible,
and her advice
    is thoughtful.
²⁷ She takes good care
of her family
    and is never lazy.
²⁸ Her children praise her,
and with great pride
    her husband says,
²⁹ “There are many good women,
    but you are the best!”

³⁰ Charm can be deceiving,
    and beauty fades away,
but a woman
who honors the Lord
    deserves to be praised.
³¹ Show her respect—
praise her in public
    for what she has done.