Proverbs 12:4

A noble wife ¹  is the crown ²  of her husband, but the wife ³  who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones. ⁴ 

biblegateway Pro 12:4

A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

biblegateway Pro 12:4

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.

biblegateway Pro 12:4

A worthy wife is her husband’s joy and crown; a shameful wife saps his strength.

biblegateway Pro 12:4

A hearty wife invigorates her husband, but a frigid woman is cancer in the bones.

SABDAweb Pro 12:4

A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones.

bibleoremus Pro 12:4

A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

biblegateway Pro 12:4

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

biblegateway Pro 12:4

A noble wife ¹  is the crown ²  of her husband, but the wife ³  who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones. ⁴ 

¹ tn Heb “a wife of virtue”; NAB, NLT “a worthy wife.” This noble woman (אֵשֶׁת־חַיִל, ’shet-khayil) is the subject of Prov 31. She is a “virtuous woman” (cf. KJV), a capable woman of noble character. She is contrasted with the woman who is disgraceful (מְבִישָׁה, mÿvishah; “one who causes shame”) or who lowers his standing in the community.

² sn The metaphor of the “crown” emphasizes that such a wife is a symbol of honor and glory.

³ tn Heb “she”; the referent (the wife) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ sn The simile means that the shameful acts of such a woman will eat away her husband’s strength and influence and destroy his happiness.