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22 He who finds a wife[a] finds good,
    and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:22 Or “woman”

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,
And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

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14 A house and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
    but from Yahweh comes a woman[a] who is prudent.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:14 Or “wife”

14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers;
But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.

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18 Discipline your child, for there is hope,
    but on his destruction do not set your desire.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:18 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope;
And set not thy heart on [a]his destruction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:18 Hebrew causing him to die.

He who walks in his integrity is righteous;
    happy are his children who follow him.

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A righteous man that walketh in his integrity,
Blessed are his children after him.

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Train the child concerning his way;[a]
    even when he is old, he will not stray from it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:6 Literally “on the mouth of his way”

Train up a child [a]in the way he should go,
And even when he is old he will not depart from it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:6 Hebrew according to his way.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart[a] of a boy;[b]
    the rod of discipline will drive it[c] from him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:15 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 22:15 Or “young man,” or “adolescent”
  3. Proverbs 22:15 That is, folly

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

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13 Do not withhold discipline from a child,
    if you will beat him with the rod, he will not die.
14 As for you, with the rod you shall beat him,
    and his life[a] you will save from Sheol.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:14 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  2. Proverbs 23:14 A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld

13 Withhold not correction from the child;
For [a]if thou beat him with the rod, he will not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod,
And shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:13 Or, though

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
    and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.

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11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

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A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad,
    but the friend of prostitutes[a] will squander his wealth.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:3 Or “whores”

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father;
But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth his substance.

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15 As for a rod and reproof, they[a] will give wisdom,
    but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:15 Hebrew “it”

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom;
But a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.

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17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest,
    and they will give delight to your soul.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:17 Or “life,” or “inner self”

17 Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest;
Yea, he will give delight unto thy soul.

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An Excellent Woman[a]

10 A woman[b] of excellence,[c] who will find?
    For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
11 The heart of her husband[d] trusts in her,
    and gain he will not lack.
12 She does him good, but not harm
    all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
    and she works with the diligence of her hands.[e]
14 She is like the ships of a merchant;
    from far off she brings her food;[f]
15 And she arises while it is still night,
    and gives food to her household,
    and tasks to her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it,
    from the fruit of her hand[g] she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her waist in strength,
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;
    her lamp does not go out in the night.
19 Her hands she puts onto the distaff,[h]
    and her palms hold a spindle.
20 Her palm she opens to the poor,
    and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
21 She does not fear for her house when it snows,
    for her entire household[i] is clothed in crimson.
22 She makes for herself coverings;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband[j] is known at the gates,
    in his seat among the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she makes and sells,
    and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the future.[k]
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
27 She looks after the ways of her household,
    and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
28 Her children rise and consider her happy,
    her husband[l] also, and he praises her;
29 “Many daughters have done excellence,[m]
    but you surpass[n] all of them.”
30 Charm[o] is deceit and beauty[p] is vain;[q]
    but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
    and may they praise her works in the city gates.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem
  2. Proverbs 31:10 Or “wife”
  3. Proverbs 31:10 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
  4. Proverbs 31:11 Or “lord”
  5. Proverbs 31:13 Literally “her palms”
  6. Proverbs 31:14 Or “bread”
  7. Proverbs 31:16 Literally “her palm”
  8. Proverbs 31:19 A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning
  9. Proverbs 31:21 Literally “all her house, household”
  10. Proverbs 31:23 Or “lord”
  11. Proverbs 31:25 Literally “to the day/time coming after”
  12. Proverbs 31:28 Or “lord”
  13. Proverbs 31:29 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
  14. Proverbs 31:29 Literally “you ascend over”
  15. Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “The charm”
  16. Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “the beauty”
  17. Proverbs 31:30 Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”

10 A worthy woman who can find?
For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her,
And he shall have no lack of [a]gain.
12 She doeth him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool and flax,
And worketh [b]willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant-ships;
She bringeth her bread from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night,
And giveth food to her household,
And their [c]task to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it;
With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength,
And maketh strong her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable;
Her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the distaff,
And her [d]hands hold the spindle.
20 She stretcheth out her [e]hand to the poor;
Yea, she reacheth forth 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 maketh for herself [f]carpets of tapestry;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them,
And delivereth girdles unto the [g]merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing;
And she laugheth at the time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
And the [h]law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household,
And eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:
29 Many daughters have done worthily,
But thou excellest them all.
30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands;
And let her works praise her in the gates.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:11 Hebrew spoil.
  2. Proverbs 31:13 Or, at the business of
  3. Proverbs 31:15 Or, portion
  4. Proverbs 31:19 Hebrew palms.
  5. Proverbs 31:20 Hebrew palm.
  6. Proverbs 31:22 Or, cushio
  7. Proverbs 31:24 Hebrew Canaanite.
  8. Proverbs 31:26 Or, teaching