Wisdom crieth without; she raiseth her voice in the broadways;

she calleth in the chief place of concourse, in the entry of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words:

if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasures:

To deliver thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words;

who forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God;

for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead;

none that go unto her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life:

For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.

Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her.

Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go: keep her, for she is thy life.

For the lips of the strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;

but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on Sheol.

Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not whither.

Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

As a lovely hind and a graceful roe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times: be thou ravished continually with her love.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise:

provideth her bread in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Lust not after her beauty in thy heart, neither let her take thee with her eyelids;

So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife: whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words.

passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

She is clamorous and unmanageable; her feet abide not in her house:

With her much enticement she beguiled him; with the smoothness of her lips she constrained him.

He went after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, and as stocks serve for the correction of the fool;

Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths:

for she hath cast down many wounded, and all slain by her were strong.

Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?

On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.

Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;

she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;

she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,

And she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

A woman of worth is a crown to her husband; but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

The wisdom of women buildeth their house; but folly plucketh it down with her hands.

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.

A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

let thy father and thy mother have joy, and let her that bore thee rejoice.

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

under an odious woman when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress.

Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.

She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;

And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.

She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.

She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth at the coming day.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.

She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her:

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.