10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12She 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 wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־H802Noun - feminine singular constructof noble characterחַ֭יִלH2428Noun - masculine singularwhoמִ֣יH4310Interrogativecan findיִמְצָ֑אH4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularShe is farוְרָחֹ֖קH7350Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singularmore preciousמִכְרָֽהּ׃H4377Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularthan rubiesמִפְּנִינִ֣יםH6443Preposition-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 heartלֵ֣בH3820Noun - masculine singular constructof her husbandבַּעְלָ֑הּH1167Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singulartrustsבָּ֣טַחH982Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularin herבָּ֭הּPreposition | third person feminine singularand he lacksיֶחְסָֽר׃H2637Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularnothingלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleof valueוְ֝שָׁלָ֗לH7998Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 12
Original words
She brings himגְּמָלַ֣תְהוּH1580Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singulargoodט֣וֹבH2896Noun - masculine singularand notוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleharmרָ֑עH7451Adjective - masculine singularallכֹּ֝֗לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe daysיְמֵ֣יH3117Noun - masculine plural constructof her lifeחַיֶּֽיה׃H2416Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular