Proverbs 31:27-29

31:27 She watches over ¹  the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness. ² 

31:28 Her children rise up ³  and call her blessed,

her husband ⁴  also praises her:

31:29 “Many ⁵  daughters ⁶  have done valiantly, ⁷ 

but you surpass them all!”

[31:27]  ¹ tn The first word of the eighteenth line begins with צ (tsade), the eighteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

[31:27]  ² sn The expression bread of idleness refers to food that is gained through idleness, perhaps given or provided for her. In the description of the passage one could conclude that this woman did not have to do everything she did; and this line affirms that even though she is well off, she will eat the bread of her industrious activity.

[31:28]  ³ tn The first word of the nineteenth line begins with ק (qof), the nineteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

[31:28]  ⁴ tn The text uses an independent nominative absolute to draw attention to her husband: “her husband, and he praises her.” Prominent as he is, her husband speaks in glowing terms of his noble wife.

[31:29]  ⁵ tn The first word of the twentieth line begins with ר (resh), the twentieth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

[31:29]  ⁶ tn Or “women” (NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).

[31:29]  ⁷ tn The word is the same as in v. 10, “noble, valiant.”