Proverbs 31:10-31

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 1 u An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than v 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 w 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 x rises while it is yet night
and y 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 z dresses herself 2 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 a opens her hand to b the poor
and reaches out her hands to b the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in c scarlet. 3
22 She makes d bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is e fine linen and f purple.
23 Her husband is known in g the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes h linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 i 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 j women have done k excellently,
but you surpass them all."
30 l 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.

  1. Cross References
    Proverbs 12:4
    An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
    Ruth 3:11
    And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.
    Proverbs 18:22
    He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
    Proverbs 19:14
    House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
  2. Cross References
    Job 28:18
    No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:21 - 22
    She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
    Proverbs 31:24
    She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
  4. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:13
    Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
  5. Cross References
    Luke 12:42
    And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
    Psalms 111:5
    He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
  6. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:25
    Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
  7. Cross References
    Romans 12:13
    Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
    Ephesians 4:28
    Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
  8. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:9
    Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
  9. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:9
    Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
  10. Cross References
    2 Samuel 1:24
    You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
  11. Cross References
    Proverbs 7:16
    I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 41:42
    Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.
    Revelation 19:8
    It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure" - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
    Revelation 19:14
    And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
  13. Cross References
    Judges 8:26
    And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels.
  14. Cross References
    Ruth 4:1 - 2
    Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, "Turn aside, friend; sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.
  15. Cross References
    Judges 14:12
    And Samson said to them, "Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.
    Isaiah 3:23
    The mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
  16. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:17
    She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
  17. Cross References
    Song of Solomon 6:9
    My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.
  18. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:10
    An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
  19. Cross References
    Proverbs 11:16
    A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.