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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Prov C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31
Prov 31 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V30 V31
In Hebrew, this section is arranged in the form of an acrostic poem. Each of its twenty-two verses begins with a different letter, following the normal order of the Hebrew alphabet. The poem praises the character and abilities of an ideal wife. After an introduction that describes her value (vv. 10–12), the poem describes her activities and achievements in various areas (vv. 13–27). It concludes with praise by her family (vv. 28–29) and all the people (vv. 30–31). The last two verses also serve as the poet’s final conclusion. They summarize what is truly important in an ideal wife.Waltke (page 515) says that the final two verses are praise “by all.” Murphy (page 245) agrees that the “praise” in the final two verses is the “goal or purpose of the poem.”
Some other headings for this section are:
A good wife with many abilities
Description of a Worthy Woman (NASB)
A truly good wife (CEV)
In this paragraph, the ideal wife is praised by her children (31:28a) and her husband (31:28b–29).
29a“Many daughters have done noble things,
29bbut you surpass them all!”
“Many daughters have done noble things,
“There are many good and capable women in the world,
He says, “Many women are clever and do everything excellently,
Many daughters have done noble things: This line means that many women do things that are both good and competent. See how you translated noble in 31:10. Some other ways to translate this line are:
“Many women have done excellently (ESV)
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world (NLT)
but you surpass them all!”
but you(sing) are far better than all of them.”
but no other women are like you. You are the best!”
but you surpass them all: This line means that the wife’s character and abilities are better than all other women. Some other ways to translate this line are:
but you are better than all of them.” (NCV)
but you are the best of them all.” (GNT)
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks
רַבּ֣וֹת בָּ֭נוֹת עָ֣שׂוּ חָ֑יִל וְ֝אַ֗תְּ עָלִ֥ית עַל־כֻּלָּֽנָה
many women they_had_acquired excellently and,you surpass on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in of_them_of,all
This verse is a quotation of what the woman’s husband said. If it would be helpful in your language, you could indicate this with quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
בָּ֭נוֹת
women
Here, the woman’s husband uses daughters to refer to women in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly, as in the UST.
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
חָ֑יִל
excellently
Here, worth refers to both physical ability and moral worth. See how you translated the same use of worth in [31:10](../31/10.md).
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns
וְ֝אַ֗תְּ עָלִ֥ית
and,you surpass
The woman’s husband uses the word yourself to emphasize how excellent his wife is. Use a way that is natural in your language to indicate this emphasis. Alternate translation: “but you, yes, you have ascended”
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
וְ֝אַ֗תְּ עָלִ֥ית עַל
and,you surpass on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in
Here, the woman’s husband speaks of his wife acting more admirably than all other woman as if she ascended over them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “but you yourself have acted more worthily than” or “but you yourself are more excellent than”
31:10-31 Proverbs ends with a powerful poem celebrating the virtuous wife. The poem’s acrostic arrangement gives an impression of completeness and provides the student with an aid for learning.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.