Add parallel Print Page Options

15 Drink water out of your own cistern
and running water from your own well.
16 Why should water flow out of your spring?
Why should your streams flow into the streets?
17 They should be yours alone,
so do not share them with strangers.
18 Let your own fountain be blessed,
and enjoy the girl you married when you were young,
19 a loving doe and a graceful deer.[a]
Always let her breasts satisfy you.
Always be intoxicated with her love.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 5:19 Or “graceful goat.”

16 A gracious woman wins respect,
but ruthless men gain riches.

Read full chapter

22 ⌞Like⌟ a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
⌞so⌟ is a beautiful woman who lacks good taste.

Read full chapter

A wife with strength of character is the crown of her husband,
but the wife who disgraces him is like bone cancer.

Read full chapter

Wise People Live Righteously

14 The wisest of women builds up her home,
but a stupid one tears it down with her own hands.

Read full chapter

22 Whoever finds a wife finds something good
and has obtained favor from the Lord.

Read full chapter

Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.

Read full chapter

19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarreling and angry woman.

Read full chapter

24 Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.

Read full chapter

15 Constantly dripping water on a rainy day is like a quarreling woman.
16 Whoever can control her can control the wind.
He can even pick up olive oil with his right hand.

Read full chapter

Four Things of Intrigue

18 Three things are too amazing to me,
even four that I cannot understand:
19 an eagle making its way through the sky,
a snake making its way over a rock,
a ship making its way through high seas,
a man making his way with a virgin.

Read full chapter

A Poem in Hebrew Alphabetical Order

10 “Who can find a wife with a strong character?
She is worth far more than jewels.
11 Her husband trusts her with ⌞all⌟ his heart,
and he does not lack anything good.
12 She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life.

13 “She seeks out wool and linen ⌞with care⌟
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like merchant ships.
She brings her food from far away.
15 She wakes up while it is still dark
and gives food to her family
and portions of food to her female slaves.

16 “She picks out a field and buys it.
She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned.
17 She puts on strength like a belt
and goes to work with energy.
18 She sees that she is making a good profit.
Her lamp burns late at night.

19 “She puts her hands on the distaff,
and her fingers hold a spindle.
20 She opens her hands to oppressed people
and stretches them out to needy people.
21 She does not fear for her family when it snows
because her whole family
has a double layer of clothing.
22 She makes quilts for herself.
Her clothes are ⌞made of⌟ linen and purple cloth.

23 “Her husband is known at the city gates
when he sits with the leaders of the land.

24 “She makes linen garments and sells them
and delivers belts to the merchants.
25 She dresses with strength and nobility,
and she smiles at the future.

26 “She speaks with wisdom,
and on her tongue there is tender instruction.
27 She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family,
and she does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children and her husband
stand up and bless her.
In addition, he sings her praises, by saying,
29 ‘Many women have done noble work,
but you have surpassed them all!’

30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates,
⌞but⌟ a woman who has the fear of the Lord should be praised.
31 Reward her for what she has done,
and let her achievements praise her at the city gates.”

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

Little Girls Bible Storybook for Mothers and Daughters
Little Girls Bible Storybook for Mothers and Daughters
Retail: $17.99
Our Price: $13.49
Save: $4.50 (25%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
The Concise A to Z Guide to Finding It in the Bible
The Concise A to Z Guide to Finding It in the Bible
Retail: $13.99
Our Price: $12.59
Save: $1.40 (10%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars