Proverbs 5:15-19
English Standard Version
15 Drink (A)water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your (B)springs be scattered abroad,
streams of water (C)in the streets?
17 (D)Let them be for yourself alone,
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your (E)fountain be blessed,
and (F)rejoice in (G)the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely (H)deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts (I)fill you at all times with delight;
be intoxicated[a] always in her love.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:19 Hebrew be led astray; also verse 20
Proverbs 5:15-19
New International Version
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain(A) be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.(B)
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer(C)—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
Proverbs 11:16
English Standard Version
Proverbs 11:16
New International Version
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(A)
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:22
English Standard Version
22 Like (A)a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
Proverbs 11:22
New International Version
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
Proverbs 12:4
English Standard Version
4 (A)An excellent wife is (B)the crown of her husband,
but she who (C)brings shame is like (D)rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 12:4
New International Version
Proverbs 14:1
English Standard Version
Proverbs 14:1
New International Version
14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Proverbs 18:22
English Standard Version
Proverbs 18:22
New International Version
Proverbs 21:9
English Standard Version
9 It is (A)better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
Proverbs 21:9
New International Version
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(A)
Proverbs 21:19
English Standard Version
19 It is (A)better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
Proverbs 21:19
New International Version
19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(A)
Proverbs 25:24
English Standard Version
24 (A)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
Proverbs 25:24
New International Version
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(A)
Proverbs 27:15-16
English Standard Version
15 (A)A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind
or to grasp[a] oil in one's right hand.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:16 Hebrew to meet with
Proverbs 27:15-16
New International Version
15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping(A)
of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand.
Proverbs 30:18-19
English Standard Version
18 (A)Three things are (B)too wonderful for me;
(C)four I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a virgin.
Proverbs 30:18-19
New International Version
18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me,
four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
Proverbs 31:10-31
English Standard Version
The Woman Who Fears the Lord
10 [a] (A)An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than (B)jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She (C)seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She (D)rises while it is yet night
and (E)provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She (F)dresses herself[b] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She (G)opens her hand to (H)the poor
and reaches out her hands to (I)the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in (J)scarlet.[c]
22 She makes (K)bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is (L)fine linen and (M)purple.
23 Her husband is known in (N)the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes (O)linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 (P)Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many (Q)women have done (R)excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 (S)Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
- Proverbs 31:17 Hebrew She girds her loins
- Proverbs 31:21 Or in double thickness
Proverbs 31:10-31
New International Version
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.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.(E)
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.(F)
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders(G) of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.(H)
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise(I) at the city gate.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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