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Proverbs 5:15-19
New International Version
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 5:15-19
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 5:15-19
Holman 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 of water 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 doe, a graceful fawn—
let her breasts always satisfy you;(D)
be lost in her love forever.
Proverbs 11:16
New International Version
Proverbs 11:16
New International Version
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(A)
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 11:16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
16 A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent[a] men gain only riches.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:16 Or ruthless
Proverbs 11:22
New International Version
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 11:22
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 11:22
Holman Christian Standard Bible
22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.(A)
Proverbs 12:4
New International Version
Proverbs 12:4
New International Version
Proverbs 12:4
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 12:4
Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 A capable wife[a] is her husband’s crown,(A)
but a wife who causes shame
is like rottenness in his bones.(B)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:4 Or A wife of quality, or A wife of good character
Proverbs 14:1
New International 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 14:1
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 14:1
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 18:22
New International Version
Proverbs 18:22
New International Version
Proverbs 18:22
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 18:22
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 21:9
New International Version
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 21:9
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 21:9
Holman Christian Standard Bible
9 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.(A)
Proverbs 21:19
New International Version
Proverbs 21:19
New International Version
19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(A)
Proverbs 21:19
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 21:19
Holman Christian Standard Bible
19 Better to live in a wilderness
than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.(A)
Proverbs 25:24
New International Version
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 25:24
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 25:24
Holman Christian Standard Bible
24 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.(A)
Proverbs 27:15-16
New International Version
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 27:15-16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 27:15-16
Holman 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 30:18-19
New International Version
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 30:18-19
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 30:18-19
Holman Christian Standard Bible
18 Three things are beyond me;
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 31:10-31
New International Version
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.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 31:10-31
Holman Christian Standard Bible
In Praise of a Capable Wife
10 Who can find a capable wife?[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 She opens her mouth with 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 sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[k] are capable,
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
- Proverbs 31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a wife of noble character
- Proverbs 31:10 Vv. 10-31 form an acrostic.
- Proverbs 31:15 Or tasks
- Proverbs 31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors
- Proverbs 31:17 Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
- Proverbs 31:20 Lit Her hand reaches
- Proverbs 31:21 LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
- Proverbs 31:24 Or sashes
- Proverbs 31:26 Or and the teaching of kindness
- Proverbs 31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
- Proverbs 31:29 Lit daughters
- Proverbs 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.