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

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

A capable wife is her husband's crown, but a wife who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

A wife with strength of character is the crown of her husband, but the wife who disgraces him is like bone cancer.

biblegateway Pro 12:4

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

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness 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.

A capable wife is her husband's crown; one who disgraces him is like a canker 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.

A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as 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.