Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
Γυναῖκα ἀνδρείαν τίς εὑρήσει; τιμιωτέρα δέ ἐστι λίθων πολυτελῶν ἡ τοιαύτη.
The Old Testament
ΠΑΡΟΙΜΙΑΙ ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝΤΟΣ · 31
22 Brenton verses
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
Γυναῖκα ἀνδρείαν τίς εὑρήσει; τιμιωτέρα δέ ἐστι λίθων πολυτελῶν ἡ τοιαύτη.
The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
Θαρσεῖ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ ἡ καρδία τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς· ἡ τοιαύτη καλῶν σκύλων οὐκ ἀπορήσει.
For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
Ἐνεργεῖ γὰρ τῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰς ἀγαθὰ πάντα τὸν βίον.
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
Μηρυομένη ἔρια καὶ λινὸν, ἐποίησεν εὔχρηστον ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῆς.
She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
Ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ ναῦς ἐμπορευομένη μακρόθεν, συνάγει δὲ αὕτη τὸν βίον.
And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and appointed tasks to her maidens.
Καὶ ἀνίσταται ἐκ νυκτῶν, καὶ ἔδωκε βρώματα τῷ οἴκῳ, καὶ ἔργα ταῖς θεραπαίναις.
She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants a possession.
Θεωρήσασα γεώργιον ἐπρίατο, ἀπὸ δὲ καρπῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς κατεφύτευσεν κτῆμα.
She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
Ἀναζωσαμένη ἰσχυρῶς τὴν ὀσφῦν αὐτῆς ἤρεισε τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτῆς εἰς ἔργον.
And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
Καὶ ἐγεύσατο ὅτι καλόν ἐστι τὸ ἐργάζεσθαι, καὶ οὐκ ἀποσβέννυται ὁ λύχνος αὐτῆς ὅλην τὴν νύκτα.
She reaches forth her arms to needful works, and applies her hands to the spindle.
τοὺς πήχεις αὐτῆς ἐκτείνει ἐπὶ τὰ συμφέροντα, τὰς δὲ χεῖρας αὐτῆς ἐρείδει εἰς ἄτρακτον.
And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
Χεῖρας δὲ αὐτῆς διήνοιξε πένητι, καρπὸν δὲ ἐξέτεινεν πτωχῷ.
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
Οὐ φροντίζει τῶν ἐν οἴκῳ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ὅταν που χρονίζῃ, πάντες γὰρ οἱ παρʼ αὐτῆς ἐνδεδυμένοι εἰαί.
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
Δισσὰς χλαίνας ἐποίησε τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς, ἐκ δὲ βύσσου καὶ πορφύρας ἑαυτῇ ἐνδύματα.
And her husband becomes a distinguished person in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Περίβλεπτος δὲ γίνεται ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ἐν πύλαις, ἡνίκα ἂν καθίσῃ ἐν συνεδρίῳ μετὰ τῶν γερόντων κατοίκων τῆς γῆς.
She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
Σινδόνας ἐποίησε καὶ ἀπέδοτο περιζώματα τοῖς Χαναναίοις. στόμα αὐτῆς διήνοιξε προσεχόντως καὶ ἐννόμως, καὶ τάξιν ἐστείλατο τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῆς.
She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
Ἰσχὺν καὶ εὐπρέπειαν ἐνεδύσατο, καὶ εὐφράνθη ἐν ἡμέραις ἐσχάταις.
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
Στεγναὶ διατριβαὶ οἴκων αὐτῆς, σῖτα δὲ ὀκνηρὰ οὐκ ἔφαγεν.
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
Τὸ στόμα δὲ ἀνοίγει σοφῶς καὶ νομοθέσμως. Ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη αὐτῆς
And her kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
ἀνέστησε τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπλούτησαν, καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ᾔνεσεν αὐτήν.
Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
Πολλαὶ θυγατέρες ἐκτήσαντο πλοῦτον, πολλαὶ ἐποίησαν δύναμιν· σὺ δὲ ὑπέρκεισαι, ὑπερῇρας πάσας.
Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear of the Lord.
Ψευδεῖς ἀρέσκειαι, καὶ μάταιον κάλλος γυναικος· γυνὴ γὰρ συνετὴ εὐλογεῖται, φόβον δὲ Κυρίου αὕτη αἰνείτω.
Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Δότε αὐτῇ ἀπὸ καρπῶν χειλέων αὐτῆς, καὶ αἰνείσθω ἐν πύλαις ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς.
Brenton supplied wording, small capitals, translation notes, Greek wording, and edition-specific verse identifiers are retained. Parallel passages keep each edition's own references. Editions and sources.