VERSE STUDY • KJV

Proverbs 31:10-31

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies. ¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. ¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ¹³ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. ¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. ¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. ¹⁸ She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night. ¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. ²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet. ²² She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple. ²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁵ Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness. ²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her. ²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰ Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies. ¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. ¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ¹³ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. ¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. ¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. ¹⁸ She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night. ¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. ²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet. ²² She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple. ²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁵ Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness. ²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her. ²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰ Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹⁰ A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. ¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. ¹² She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life. ¹³ She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. ¹⁵ She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants. ¹⁶ She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong. ¹⁸ She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night. ¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. ²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. ²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet. ²² She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³ Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants. ²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well: ²⁹ “Many daughters have done 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 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.

WEB World English Bible

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies. ¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. ¹² She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. ¹³ She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar. ¹⁵ She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls. ¹⁶ She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong. ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night. ¹⁹ She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. ²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²² She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³ Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant. ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: ²⁹ “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.” ³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

ASV American Standard Version

¹⁰ A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies. ¹¹ The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. ¹² She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life. ¹³ She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar. ¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens. ¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms. ¹⁸ She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable; Her lamp goeth not out by night. ¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle. ²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²² She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³ Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come. ²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue. ²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying: ²⁹ Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all. ³⁰ Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

¹⁰ A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies is her price. ¹¹ The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not. ¹² She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life. ¹³ She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh with her hands. ¹⁴ She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread. ¹⁵ Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels. ¹⁶ She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. ¹⁷ She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms. ¹⁸ She hath perceived when her merchandise is good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night. ¹⁹ Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff. ²⁰ Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²² Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple are her clothing. ²³ Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land. ²⁴ Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant. ²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day. ²⁶ Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness is on her tongue. ²⁷ She is watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not. ²⁸ Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her, ²⁹ Many are the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.’ ³⁰ The grace is false, and the beauty is vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself. ³¹ Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!

Surrounding context — Proverbs 31

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Read the whole chapter → · About Proverbs →

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION

Compare classic commentaries on Proverbs 31:10-31

Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.

Compare commentaries →