Proverbs 31:10-31

The Woman Who Fears the  Lord

10  ▼
▼ Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
 b An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than c 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 d 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 e rises while it is yet night
and f 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 g dresses herself ▼
▼ Hebrew  She girds her loins
 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 i opens her hand to j the poor
and reaches out her hands to k the needy.
 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in l scarlet. ▼
▼ Or  in double thickness

 22 She makes n bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is o fine linen and p purple.
 23 Her husband is known in q the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
 24 She makes r linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
 25  s 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 t women have done u excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
 30  v 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.
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