Proverbs 5:15-19
Common English Bible
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
gushing water from your own well.
16 Should your fountains flood outside,
streams of water in the public squares?
17 They are yours alone,
not for you as well as strangers.
18 May your spring be blessed.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts intoxicate you all the time;
always be drunk on her love.
Proverbs 11:16
Common English Bible
16 A gracious woman gains honor;
violent men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:22
Common English Bible
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s nose
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Proverbs 12:4
Common English Bible
4 A strong woman is a crown to her husband,
but a disgraceful woman is like rot in his bones.
Proverbs 14:1
Common English Bible
14 A wise woman builds her house,
while a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.
Proverbs 18:22
Common English Bible
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good,
gaining favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 21:9
Common English Bible
9 Better to live on the edge of a roof
than with a contentious woman in a large house.
Proverbs 21:19
Common English Bible
19 Better to live in a wilderness
than in a house with a contentious and angry woman.
Proverbs 25:24
Common English Bible
24 Better to live on the edge of a roof
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 27:15-16
Common English Bible
15 The constant dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike;
16 anyone who can control her
can control the wind
or pick up oil in his hand.
Proverbs 30:18-19
Common English Bible
18 Three things are too wonderful for me,
four that I can’t figure out:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on the rock,
the way of a ship out on the open sea,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Common English Bible
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.
13 She seeks out wool and flax;
she works joyfully with her hands.
14 She is like a fleet of merchant ships,
bringing food from a distance.
15 She gets up while it is still night,
providing food for her household,
even some for her female servants.
16 She surveys a field and acquires it;
from her own resources, she plants a vineyard.
17 She works energetically;
her arms are powerful.
18 She realizes that her trading is successful;
she doesn’t put out her lamp at night.
19 She puts her hands to the spindle;
her palms grasp the whorl.
20 She reaches out to the needy;
she stretches out her hands to the poor.
21 She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows,
because they are all dressed in warm[a] clothes.
22 She makes bedspreads for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates
when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She makes garments and sells them;
she supplies sashes to traders.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
she is confident about the future.
26 Her mouth is full of wisdom;
kindly teaching is on her tongue.
27 She is vigilant over the activities of her household;
she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.
28 Her children bless her;
her husband praises her:
29 “Many women act competently,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Let her share in the results of her work;
let her deeds praise her in the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:21 LXX; MT red
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible