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.
Focused Passage
Proverbs 31:10-12
The Words of Lemuel: Righteous Kingship, Justice for the Needy, and the Woman Who Fears the LORD
The chapter moves from royal warning against sensual and intoxicating distraction, to the king's duty to judge fairly and defend the vulnerable, then to an acrostic portrait of wisdom embodied in a noble woman whose diligence, generosity, enterprise, speech, household oversight, and fear of the LORD bring lasting praise.
Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources
Study Helps
References and Original Words
Verse 10
Cross-references
Original words
A wife אֵֽשֶׁת־ H802 Noun - feminine singular construct of noble character חַ֭יִל H2428 Noun - masculine singular who מִ֣י H4310 Interrogative can find יִמְצָ֑א H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular She is far וְרָחֹ֖ק H7350 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular more precious מִכְרָֽהּ׃ H4377 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular than rubies מִפְּנִינִ֣ים H6443 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural
BSB notes
- Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Verse 11
Original words
The heart לֵ֣ב H3820 Noun - masculine singular construct of her husband בַּעְלָ֑הּ H1167 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular trusts בָּ֣טַח H982 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular in her בָּ֭הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular and he lacks יֶחְסָֽר׃ H2637 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular nothing לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle of value וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל H7998 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 12
Original words
She brings him גְּמָלַ֣תְהוּ H1580 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular good ט֣וֹב H2896 Noun - masculine singular and not וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle harm רָ֑ע H7451 Adjective - masculine singular all כֹּ֝֗ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the days יְמֵ֣י H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct of her life חַיֶּֽיה׃ H2416 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular