Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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Read the Bible

Literal Standard Version

Proverbs 31:27

She [is] watching the ways of her household, || And she does not eat bread of sloth.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Economics;   Family;   Frugality;   Industry;   Poetry;   Wife;   Women;   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Duty;   Home;   Industry;   Social Duties;   Virtues;   Wives' Duty;   Woman;   Women;   Work, Physical;   The Topic Concordance - Praise;   Virtue;   Women;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Bread;   Families;   Industry;   Wives;   Woman;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Lemuel;   Letters;   Proverb, the Book of;   Woman;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Bread;   Parents;   Wife;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Beauty;   Bread, Bread of Presence;   Woman;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Poetry;   Wife;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Education;   Lemuel;   Marriage;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acrostic;   Bread;   Idle;   Proverbs, Book of;   Slothful;   Wisdom and Wise Men;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Acrostic;   Ethics;   Marriage;   Massa;   Song of Songs;   Trade and Commerce;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Home (2);   Parents (2);   Sirach;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Poetry;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Writing;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Bread;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Idle;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Acrostics;   Bread;   Monogamy;   Poetry;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
She watches over the activities of her householdand is never idle.
Hebrew Names Version
She looks well to the ways of her household, And doesn't eat the bread of idleness.
King James Version
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
English Standard Version
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
New American Standard Bible
She watches over the activities of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
New Century Version
She watches over her family and never wastes her time.
Amplified Bible
She looks well to how things go in her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
World English Bible
She looks well to the ways of her household, And doesn't eat the bread of idleness.
Geneva Bible (1587)
She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
Legacy Standard Bible
She watches over the ways of her household,And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Berean Standard Bible
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Contemporary English Version
She takes good care of her family and is never lazy.
Complete Jewish Bible
צ She watches how things go in her house, not eating the bread of idleness.
Darby Translation
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Easy-to-Read Version
She oversees the care of her house. She is never lazy.
George Lamsa Translation
The ways of her household are above reproach, and she does not eat the bread of idleness.
Good News Translation
She is always busy and looks after her family's needs.
Lexham English Bible
She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
Literal Translation
She watches the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
She loketh wel to the wayes of hir housholde, & eateth not hir bred with ydilnes.
American Standard Version
She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
Bible in Basic English
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
King James Version (1611)
She looketh well to the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of idlenesse.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
She loketh well to the wayes of her housholde: and eateth not her bread with idlenesse.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
English Revised Version
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sche bihelde the pathis of hir hous; and sche eet not breed idili.
Update Bible Version
She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Webster's Bible Translation
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
New English Translation
She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
New King James Version
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
New Living Translation
She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
New Life Bible
She looks well to the ways of those in her house, and does not eat the bread of doing nothing.
New Revised Standard
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
Douay-Rheims Bible
She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
Revised Standard Version
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Young's Literal Translation
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Contextual Overview

10[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband has trusted in her, || And he does not lack spoil. 12She has done him good, and not evil, || All [the] days of her life. 13She has sought wool and flax, || And with delight she works [with] her hands. 14She has been as ships of the merchant, || She brings in her bread from afar. 15Indeed, she rises while yet night, || And gives food to her household, || And a portion to her girls. 16She has considered a field, and takes it, || She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands. 17She has girded her loins with might, || And strengthens her arms. 18She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, || Her lamp is not extinguished in the night. 19She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, || And her hands have held a distaff.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proverbs 14:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 5:10, Titus 2:4

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:15 - pitcher Ruth 2:17 - she gleaned 1 Samuel 25:19 - But 2 Thessalonians 3:8 - eat 1 Timothy 5:13 - to be 1 Timothy 5:14 - guide

Cross-References

Genesis 4:21
and the name of his brother [is] Jubal, he has been father of everyone handling harp and pipe.
Genesis 31:3
And YHWH says to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers, and to your family, and I am with you."
Genesis 31:5
and says to them, "I am beholding your father's face—that it is not toward me as before, and the God of my father has been with me,
Genesis 31:11
and the Messenger of God says to me in the dream, Jacob, and I say, Here I [am].
Genesis 31:14
And Rachel answers—Leah also—and says to him, "Have we yet a portion and inheritance in the house of our father?
Genesis 31:20
and Jacob deceives the heart of Laban the Aramean, because he has not declared to him that he is fleeing;
Genesis 31:21
and he flees, he and all that he has, and rises, and passes over the River, and sets his face [toward] the Mount of Gilead.
Genesis 31:23
and he takes his brothers with him, and pursues after him a journey of seven days, and overtakes him in the Mount of Gilead.
Genesis 31:26
And Laban says to Jacob, "What have you done that you deceive my heart, and lead away my daughters as captives of the sword?
Genesis 31:31
And Jacob answers and says to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I said, Lest you violently take away your daughters from me;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

She looketh well to the ways of her household,.... The business of her house, her domestic affairs; that her children and servants have convenient food, and in due season; that they have proper clothing, and keep their garments close about them, and unspotted; that everyone does the business of his calling, her several officers, and private members; that a good decorum is kept, that all things are done decently and in order; that the rules of her lord and husband are observed; that the conversations of all in her house are according to the word of God, and becoming their character: she takes care of the sick and weak, comforts the feeble minded, and supports the infirm; she cannot bear them that are evil, whether in principle or practice; that are immoral in their lives, or unsound in their faith; but admonishes them according to the nature of their offences, and casts out the obstinate or incorrigible. The words may be rendered, "she looks well to the ways of her house" d; that lead unto it, so Gersom; either her house below, the way or entrance into which is by faith in Christ, and a profession of it; and she takes care that none be admitted but such who have it: or the ways in it, the commands, ordinances, appointments, and constitutions of Christ, called the ways of Zion; and concerned she is that all in her family walk in them, and observe them: or her house above, which is eternal in the heavens; Christ's Father's house and, hers, in which are many mansions, and everlasting habitations; the way to this also is Christ, who is the true way to eternal life, the strait gate and narrow way that leads to it; without his imputed righteousness, and the regenerating grace of his Spirit, there is no entrance into it: besides this, there are lesser paths which agree and coincide; as the paths of faith, truth, and holiness, and the ways of Christ's commandments, which issue in it, and which the church and her true members are careful to look unto and observe. The Arabic version renders it, "the paths of her house are strait"; with which compare Matthew 7:13. Jarchi interprets these ways of the law, which teaches the good way, and to separate from transgression;

and eateth not the bread of idleness; of an idle woman, as Aben Ezra; or she being idle does not eat bread; she does not eat it without labour; it is "the bread of labour", of many labours she eats, as in

Psalms 127:2; she labours for the meat which endures to everlasting life, John 6:27; the Gospel, that bread which strengthens man's heart, refreshes his spirit, is made of the finest of the wheat, contains the wholesome words of Christ, and by which men are nourished up unto everlasting life; and which particularly directs to Christ the true bread, the bread of life, of which if a man eat he shall never die, but live for ever; and on which true believers feed by faith; but though this is prepared for them, and is the gift of God to them, yet must be laboured for; it is not eaten without labour: believers read, hear, and pray, and diligently attend all ordinances for the sake of this food.

d הליכות ביתה "vias domus suae", Paginius, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "ambulationes domus suae", Cocceius.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 31:27. She looketh well to the ways of her household

18. She is a moral manager: she takes care that all shall behave themselves well; that none of them shall keep bad company or contract vicious habits. A religious industry, or an industrious religion, is the law of her house. She can instruct them in religion, as well as she can teach them in their labour. In her house, diligence in business, and fervency of spirit, serving the Lord, go hand in hand.

And eateth not the bread of idleness.

19. She knows that idleness leads to vice; and therefore every one has his work, and every one has his proper food. That they may work well, they are fed well; and every one, at least, earns the bread that he eats - eateth not the bread of idleness.


 
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