The eyes(A) of the Lord are everywhere,(B)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(C)

Read full chapter

The Lord’s eyes are everywhere,
    keeping watch on evil and good people.

Read full chapter

13 Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil(A) for good.(B)

Read full chapter

13 Evil will never depart from the house
    of those who return evil for good.

Read full chapter

26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(A)
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

Read full chapter

26 It isn’t good to punish the righteous,
    to strike the honorable for their integrity.

Read full chapter

When a king sits on his throne to judge,(A)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(B)

Read full chapter

A king who sits on his judgment throne
    sifts out all evil with his eyes.

Read full chapter

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,(A)
    but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

Read full chapter

10 Whoever misleads those who do right onto an evil path
    will fall into their own pit,
    but the blameless will inherit good things.

Read full chapter

21 To show partiality(A) is not good(B)
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.(C)

Read full chapter

21 Those who show favoritism aren’t good;
    people do wrong for a crust of bread.

Read full chapter

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]A wife of noble character(A) who can find?(B)
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband(C) has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.(D)
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

The competent wife

10 A competent wife, how does one find her?
    Her value is far above pearls.
11 Her husband entrusts his heart to her,
    and with her he will have all he needs.
12 She brings him good and not trouble
    all the days of her life.

Read full chapter