Proverbs 18:22

¹⁴House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

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

⁴A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.

⁹Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.

²But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

¹⁸The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to^[+] him.”

¹⁵Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. ¹⁶Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? ¹⁷Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you. ¹⁸Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. ¹⁹A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love. ²⁰For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another? ²¹For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths. ²²The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly. ²³He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

³⁵For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.

¹²Jacob fled into the country of Aram. Israel served to get a wife. For a wife he tended flocks and herds.

⁴So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.