May He send you help from the sanctuary (His dwelling place) And support and strengthen you from Zion!
May He remember all your meal offerings And accept your burnt offering. Selah.
May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your plans.
Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.
It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.
It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].
Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction].
“Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you.
House and wealth are the inheritance from fathers, But a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the Lord.
My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not reject the teaching of your mother.
Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
May the Lord, the God of your fathers, add to you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, just as He has promised you!
The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you];
The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];
The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’
The Lord your God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.
The wise woman builds her house [on a foundation of godly precepts, and her household thrives], But the foolish one [who lacks spiritual insight] tears it down with her own hands [by ignoring godly principles].
A gracious and good woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].
Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired); Her husband also, and he praises her, saying,
An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls.
“Many daughters have done nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], But you excel them all.”
Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.
He who finds a [true and faithful] wife finds a good thing And obtains favor and approval from the Lord.
My son, be guided by your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction) And do not reject the teaching of your mother;
Bind them continually upon your heart (in your thoughts), And tie them around your neck.
So Jesus, seeing His mother, and the disciple whom He loved (esteemed) standing near, said to His mother, “[Dear] woman, look, [here is] your son!”
He makes the barren woman live in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”