Meditations from the Book of
Proverbs. Proverbs Chapter 1. The Proverbs
of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. to know wisdom
and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to
receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity,
to give prudence to the naive, to the youth, knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear and increase
in learning and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Indeed, they are a
graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck. My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent. My son, do not walk in the way
with them. Keep your feet from their path,
for their feet run to evil and they hasten to shed blood. Because I called And you refused. I stretched out my hand, and
no one paid attention. And you neglected all my counsel,
and did not want my reproof. I will also laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your dread comes,
when your dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes like
a whirlwind. When distress and anguish come
upon you, then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently,
but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did
not choose the fear of the Lord. They would not accept my counsel. They spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit
of their own way, and be satiated with their own devices. For the
waywardness of the naive will kill them, and the complacency
of fools will destroy them. But he who listens to me shall
live securely, and will be at ease from the dread of evil. Proverbs chapter 2. My son, if you will receive my
words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive
to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding. For if you
cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding. If you
seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures. Then you will discern the fear
of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord
gives wisdom. From His mouth come knowledge
and understanding. Then you will discern righteousness
and justice and equity and every good course. for wisdom will
enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will guard you. Understanding will watch over
you to deliver you from the way of evil. Proverbs Chapter 3 My son, do
not forget my teaching. but let your heart keep my commandments. Do not let kindness and truth
leave you. Find them around your neck. Write
them on the tablet of your heart. Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your
ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from
evil. My son, do not reject the discipline
of the Lord or loathe His reproof. For whom the Lord loves, He reproves. even as a father corrects the
son in whom he delights. How blessed is the man who finds
wisdom and the man who gains understanding, for her profit
is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than
fine gold. She is more precious than jewels
and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her
right hand. In her left hand are riches and
honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and
all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those
who take hold of her. and happy are all who hold her
fast. The curse of the Lord is on the
house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Though he scoffs at the scoffers, yet he gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor,
but fools display dishonor. Proverbs chapter 4. Hear, O sons,
the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may
gain understanding. For I give you sound teaching. Do not abandon my instruction. Hear, my son, and accept my sayings,
and the years of your life will be many. I have directed you
in the way of wisdom. I have led you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will
not be impeded, and if you run, you will not stumble. Take hold
of instruction. Do not let go. Guard her, for
she is your life. Do not enter the path of the
wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it. Do not pass by it. Turn away
from it and pass on. My son, give attention to my
words. Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your
sight. Keep them in the midst of your
heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to all
their body. Watch over your heart with all
diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful
mouth, and put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look
directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front
of you. Watch the path of your feet and
all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor
to the left. Turn your foot from evil. Proverbs chapter 5 The ways of
a man are before the eyes of the Lord. and he watches all
his paths. His own iniquities will capture
the wicked and he will be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction
and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray. Proverbs chapter 6 Go to the
aunt, O sluggard, observe her ways, and be wise. How long will
you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your
sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest. Your poverty will come
in like a vagabond, and your need like an armed man. There are six things which the
Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him. Haughty
eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart
that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false
witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among
brothers. My son, observe the commandment
of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will
guide you. When you sleep, they will watch
over you. and when you awake, they will
talk to you. For the commandment is a lamp,
and the teaching is light, and reproofs for discipline are the
way of life. To keep you from the evil woman,
from the smooth tongue of the adulteress, do not desire her
beauty in your heart, nor let her capture you with her eyelids
For on account of a harlot, one is reduced to a loaf of bread,
and an adulteress hunts for the precious life. The one who commits
adultery with a woman is lacking sense. He who would destroy himself
does it. Wounds and disgrace he will find,
and his reproach will not be blotted out. Proverbs Chapter 7 My son, keep
My words, and treasure My commandments within you. Keep My commandments,
and live, and My teaching as the apple of your eye. Find them
on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart. Say
to wisdom, You are My sister, and call understanding your intimate
friend. Proverbs Chapter 8 Does not wisdom
call and understanding lift up her voice? Take my instruction
and not silver, and knowledge rather than choiceless gold.
For wisdom is better than jewels, and all desirable things cannot
compare with her. I wisdom dwell with prudence
and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate
evil. Pride and arrogance and the evil
way and the perverted mouth I hate. Counsel is mine. and sound wisdom. I am understanding. Power is
mine. I love those who love me, and
those who diligently seek me will find me. My fruit is better
than gold, even pure gold, and my yield better than choicest
silver. Proverbs chapter 9. Do not reprove
a scoffer, or he will hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will
love you. Give instruction to a wise man,
and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he
will increase his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom. and the knowledge of the Holy
One is understanding. Proverbs Chapter 10 A wise son
makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother. Poor is he who works with a negligent
hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who walks in integrity
walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. The mouth of the righteous is
a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love
covers all transgressions. He is on the path of life who
heeds instruction, but he who ignores reproof goes astray. When there are many words, transgression
is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is
as choice silver. The heart of the wicked is worth
little. The lips of the righteous feed
many, but fools die for lack of understanding. Doing wickedness
is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding. What the wicked fears will come
upon him but the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the whirlwind passes, the
wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation. The way of the Lord is a stronghold
to the upright, but ruin to the workers of iniquity. The righteous will never be shaken,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land. The mouth of the righteous flows
with wisdom, but the perverted tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous bring
forth what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what
is perverted. Proverbs Chapter 11 When pride comes, then comes
dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom. Riches do not profit
in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness
of the blameless will smooth his way, but the wicked will
fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright
will deliver them, but the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. When a wicked man dies, his expectation
will perish, and the hope of strong men perishes. He who goes about as a tale-bearer
reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. Where there is no guidance the
people fall but in abundance of counselors there is victory. The merciful man does himself
good but the cruel man does himself harm. Assuredly The evil man will not
go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered. As a ring of gold in a swine's
snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. The desire of the righteous is
only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. Proverbs Chapter 12 Whoever loves
discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. An excellent wife is the crown
of her husband, but she who shames him is like rottenness in his
bones. A righteous man has regard for
the life of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked
is cruel. He who tills his land will have
plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense. The way of a fool is right in
his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. There is one who speaks rashly
like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings
healing. No harm befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble. A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly. Anxiety in a man's heart
weighs it down but a good word makes it glad. In the way of
righteousness is life and in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs chapter 13 A wise son accepts his father's
discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. The one who guards his mouth
preserves his life. The one who opens wide his lips
comes to ruin. The soul of the sluggard craves
and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat. There is one who pretends to
be rich, but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor,
but has great wealth. The teaching of the wise is a
fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death. He who walks with wise men will
be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. He who withholds his rod hates
his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. The wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish tears it down with her own hands. In the mouth of the foolish is
a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will protect them. Proverbs Chapter 14 The heart
knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its
joy. There is a way which seems right
to a man, but its end is the way of death. Even in laughter,
the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief. A wise man is cautious and turns
away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless. Will they
not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be
to those who devise good. In all labor there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty. The fear of the Lord is a fountain
of life, that one may avoid the snares of death. He who is slow to anger has great
understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. A tranquil heart is life to the
body, but passion is rottenness to the bones. Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs chapter 15. A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. The eyes of the Lord are in every
place, watching the evil and the good. A soothing tongue is
a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit. The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of fools are not so. The sacrifice of the wicked is
an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is
His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination
to the Lord, but He loves one who pursues righteousness. Grievous
punishment is for him who forsakes the way. He who hates reproof
will die. A joyful heart makes a cheerful
face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. All the days of the afflicted
are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear
of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it. Better is
a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served
with hatred. Folly is joy to him who lacks
sense, but a man of understanding walks straight. Without consultation plans are
frustrated but with many counselors they succeed. A man has joy in an apt answer
and how delightful is a timely word. Evil plans are an abomination
to the Lord but pleasant words are pure. The heart of the righteous
ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out
evil things. The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous. He who neglects discipline despises
himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction
for wisdom, and before honor comes humility. The plans of
the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from
the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean
in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives. Commit your
works to the Lord and your plans will be established. The Lord
has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for
the day of evil. Everyone who is proud in heart
is an abomination to the Lord. Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. By the fear of the Lord, one
keeps away from evil. Better is a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice. The mind of man plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps. how much better it is to get
wisdom than gold, and to get understanding is to be chosen
above silver. The highway of the upright is
to depart from evil. He who watches his way preserves
his life. Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before stumbling. Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. There is a way which seems right
to a man, but its end is the way of death. A worker's appetite works for
him, for his hunger urges him on. A perverse man spreads strife,
and a slanderer separates intimate friends. A gray head is a crown of glory. It is found in the way of righteousness. He who is slow to anger is better
than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who captures
a city. The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord. Proverbs Chapter 17 Better is
a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting
with strife. The refining pot is for silver,
and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts. He who conceals a transgression
seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. A rebuke goes deeper into one who
has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. Let a man meet a bear robbed
of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. He who returns
evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like
letting out water so abandon the quarrel before it breaks
out. A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity. A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones. He who restrains his
words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of
understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent,
is considered wise. When he closes his lips, he is
considered prudent. Proverbs chapter 18. A fool does
not delight in understanding. but only in revealing his own
mind. A fool's lips bring strife and
his mouth calls for blows. A fool's mouth is his ruin and
his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a whisperer are
like dainty morsels and they go down into the innermost parts
of the body. He also who is slack in his work
is brother to him who destroys. The name of the Lord is a strong
tower. The righteous runs into it and
is safe. Before destruction, the heart
of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor. He who gives an answer before
he hears, it is folly and shame to him. The spirit of a man can
endure his sickness, but as for a broken spirit, who can bear
it? The mind of the prudent acquires
knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. The first to plead his case seems
right until another comes and examines him. The cast lot puts an end to strife
and decides between the mighty ones. A brother offended is harder
to be won than a strong city and contentions are like the
bars of a citadel. Death and life are in the power
of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit. He who finds a wife finds a good
thing and obtains favor from the Lord. A man of too many friends
comes to ruin but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs chapter 19 The foolishness
of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the Lord. Many will seek the favor of a
generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. He who gets wisdom loves his
own soul. He who keeps understanding will
find good. A man's discretion makes him
slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression. A foolish son is destruction
to his father, and the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. House and wealth are an inheritance
from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. Laziness casts
into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger. He who keeps the commandment
keeps his soul. but he who is careless of conduct
will die. Discipline your son while there
is hope and do not desire his death. Listen to counsel and accept
discipline that you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans
are in a man's heart but the counsel of the Lord will stand. The fear of the Lord leads to
life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. Cease listening,
my son, to discipline, and you will stray from the words of
knowledge. Proverbs chapter 20 Keeping away
from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel. The sluggard does not plow after
the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing. A plan in the heart of a man
is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out. Many a man proclaims his own
loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? A righteous man who walks in his
integrity, how blessed are his sons after him! Who can say, I have cleansed
my heart, I am pure from my sin? Differing weights and differing
measures, both of them are abominable to the Lord. The hearing ear
and the seeing eye, the Lord has made both of them. Do not
love sleep, or you will become poor. There is gold and an abundance
of jewels, but the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing. Man's steps are ordained by the
Lord. How then can man understand his
way? Stripes that wound scour away
evil, and strokes reach the innermost parts. The King's heart is like channels
of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs Chapter 21 Many are
the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that
prevails. Every man's way is right in his
own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness
and justice is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked is sin. The way of a guilty man is crooked,
but as for the pure, his conduct is upright. It is better to live in a corner
of a roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman. A gift in secret subdues anger
and a bribe in the bosom strong wrath. A man who wanders from
the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. He who loves pleasure will become
a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will
not become rich. It is better to live in a desert
land than with a contentious and vexing woman. There is precious treasure and
oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it
up. He who guards his mouth and his
tongue guards his soul from troubles. The desire of the sluggard puts
him to death, for his hands refuse to work. The sacrifice of the wicked is
an abomination. How much more when he brings
it with evil intent. There is no wisdom and no understanding
and no counsel against the Lord. The horse is prepared for the
day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord. Proverbs chapter 22 The rich
and the poor have a common bond. The Lord is the maker of them
all. The prudent sees the evil and
hides himself, but the naive go on and are punished for it. Thorns and snares are in the
way of the perverse. He who guards himself will be
far from them. Train up a child in the way he
should go. Even when he is old, he will
not depart from it. He who is generous will be blessed,
for he gives some of his food to the poor. Foolishness is bound up in the
heart of a child. The rod of discipline will remove
it far from him. Proverbs Chapter 23 When you
sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before
you. and put a knife to your throat
if you are a man of great appetite. Do not desire his delicacies,
for it is deceptive food. Do not weary yourself to gain
wealth. Cease from your consideration
of it. When you set your eyes on it,
it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself
wings. like an eagle that flies toward
the heavens. Do not eat the bread of a selfish
man or desire his delicacies. He says to you, eat and drink,
but his heart is not with you. Do not speak in the hearing of
a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. Apply your heart to discipline
and your ears to words of knowledge. Do not hold back discipline from
the child. Although you strike him with
the rod, he will not die. You shall strike him with the
rod and rescue his soul from Sheol. Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but live in the fear of the Lord always. buy truth and do not sell it. Get wisdom and instruction and
understanding. The father of the righteous will
greatly rejoice, and he who sires a wise son will be glad in him. Give me your heart, my son, and
let your eyes delight in my ways. Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has
complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of the eyes? Those who linger long over wine. At the last it bites like a serpent
and stings like a viper. Proverbs Chapter 24 Do not be envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them. For their minds devise violence,
and their lips talk of trouble. By wisdom a house is built, and
by understanding it is established. and by knowledge the rooms are
filled with all precious and pleasant riches. The devising of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to men. Do not fret because of
evil doers, or be envious of the wicked, for there will be
no future for the evil man. the lamp of the wicked will be
put out. I passed by the field of the
sluggard, and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, and
behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles. Its surface was
covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon
it. I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest. Then your poverty will
come as a robber and your want like an armed man. Proverbs chapter 25 Like apples of gold in settings
of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. Like an
earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover
to a listening ear. Have you found honey? Eat only
what you need, that you not have it in excess. and vomit it. Let your foot rarely be in your
neighbor's house or he will become weary of you and hate you. If your enemy is hungry give
him food to eat and if he is thirsty give him water to drink. It is better to live in a corner
of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman. Like
cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land. It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it glory to search out one's own glory. Like a city
that is broken into and without walls, is a man who has no control
over his spirit. A whip is for the horse, a bridle
for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. Do not answer a fool according
to his folly, or you will also be like him. Like a dog that returns to its
vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise
in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool
than for him. The sluggard says, there is a
lion in the road. A lion is in the open square. As the door turns on its hinges,
so does the sluggard on his bed. The sluggard is wiser in his
own eyes than seven men who can give a discreet answer. Like one who takes a dog by the
ears, is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging
to him. For lack of wood, the fire goes
out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. Like charcoal to hot embers and
wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a whisperer are
like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts
of the body. He who hates disguises it with
his lips, but he lays up deceit in his heart. When he speaks
graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations
in his heart. A lying tongue hates those it
crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another
praise you, and not your own mouth, a stranger. and not your
own lips. Wrath is fierce, and anger is
a flood, but who can stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than love
that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a
friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. Like a bird
that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his
home. A prudent man sees evil and hides
himself. The naive proceed and pay the
penalty. A constant dripping on a day
of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike. iron sharpens iron, so one man
sharpens another. Though you pound a fool in a
mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness
will not depart from him. Proverbs chapter 28 The wicked
flee when no one is pursuing, but
the righteous are bold as a lion. Better is the poor who walks
in his integrity than he who is crooked, though he be rich. The rich man is wise in his own
eyes, but the poor who has understanding sees through him. He who conceals his transgressions
will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will
find compassion. Blessed is the man who fears
always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. He who walks blamelessly will
be delivered. but he who is crooked will fall
all at once. He who tills his land will have
plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty
in plenty. An arrogant man stirs up strife,
but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. He who trusts in
his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered. A man who hardens his neck after
much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. When the righteous increase,
the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan. A man who flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his steps. A fool always loses his temper,
but a wise man holds it back. The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. Correct your son and he will
give you comfort. He will also delight your soul. Do you see a man who is hasty
in his words? There is more hope for a fool
than for him. A man's pride will bring him
low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. The fear of man brings a snare, but
he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. Proverbs 30 Every word of God
is tested. He is a shield to those who take
refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, or He
will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is
my portion, that I not be full and deny you and say, Who is
the Lord, or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the
name of my God? There is a kind who is pure in
his own eyes, yet is not washed from his filthiness. If you have been foolish in exalting
yourself, Or, if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth. An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts
in her. She does him good and not evil
all the days of her life. Strength and dignity are her
clothing. She opens her mouth in wisdom
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well
to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of
idleness. Her children rise up and bless
her, her husband also, and he praises her, saying, Many daughters
have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful,
and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall
be praised. Give her the product of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.