Proverbs 5:15-19
Christian Standard Bible
Enjoy Marriage
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
water flowing from your own well.(A)
16 Should your springs flow in the streets,
streams in the public squares?(B)
17 They should be for you alone
and not for you to share with strangers.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.(C)
19 A loving deer, a graceful doe[a]—
let her breasts always satisfy you;(D)
be lost in her love forever.
Footnotes
- 5:19 Or graceful mountain goat
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
Christian Standard Bible
16 A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent[a] people gain only riches.
Footnotes
- 11:16 Or ruthless
Proverbs 11:16
Common English Bible
16 A gracious woman gains honor;
violent men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:22
Christian Standard Bible
22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.(A)
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
Christian Standard Bible
4 A wife of noble character[a] is her husband’s crown,(A)
but a wife who causes shame
is like rottenness in his bones.(B)
Footnotes
- 12:4 Or A wife of quality, or A wife of good character
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
Christian Standard Bible
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
Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 18:22
Common English Bible
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good,
gaining favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 21:9
Christian Standard Bible
9 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.(A)
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
Christian Standard Bible
19 Better to live in a wilderness
than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.(A)
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
Christian Standard Bible
24 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.(A)
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
Christian Standard Bible
15 An endless dripping on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike;(A)
16 the one who controls her controls the wind
and grasps oil with his right hand.
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
Christian Standard Bible
18 Three things are too wondrous for me;(A)
four I can’t understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
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
Christian Standard Bible
In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character
10 Who can find a wife of noble character?[a](A)
She is far more precious than jewels.[b]
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.(B)
15 She rises while it is still night(C)
and provides food for her household
and portions[c] for her female servants.(D)
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.[d](E)
17 She draws on her strength[e]
and reveals that her arms are strong.(F)
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.(G)
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.(H)
20 Her hands reach[f] out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.(I)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.[g]
22 She makes her own bed coverings;(J)
her clothing is fine linen(K) and purple.(L)
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.(M)
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts[h] to the merchants.
25 Strength(N) and honor are her clothing,(O)
and she can laugh at the time to come.(P)
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom,
and loving instruction[i] is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household(Q)
and is never idle.[j]
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[k] have done noble deeds,
but you surpass them all!” (R)
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,(S)
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor,[l]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
Footnotes
- 31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a capable wife
- 31:10 Vv. 10–31 form an acrostic.
- 31:15 Or tasks
- 31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors
- 31:17 Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
- 31:20 Lit Her hand reaches
- 31:21 LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
- 31:24 Or sashes
- 31:26 Or and the teaching of kindness
- 31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
- 31:29 Lit daughters
- 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
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
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