My son, hear thy father's doctrine, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Wisdom crieth without and putteth forth her voice in the streets.

She calleth before the congregation in the open gates, and showeth her words through the city, saying,

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not hear: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.

If thou seekest after her as after money, and diggest for her as for treasures;

That thou mayest be delivered also from the strange woman, and from her that is not thine own: which giveth sweet words,

forsaketh the husband of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

For her house is inclined unto death, and her paths into hell.

All they that go in unto her, come not again, neither take they hold of the way of life.

Wisdom is more worth than precious stones, and all the things that thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Upon her righthand is long life, and upon her left hand is riches and honour.

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceable.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and blessed are they that keep her fast.

Hear, O ye children, the fatherly exhortation, and take good heed, that ye may learn wisdom.

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

Make much of her and she shall promote thee: Yea, if thou embracest her, she shall bring thee unto honour.

Hear, my son, and receive my words, that the years of thy life may be many.

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

For the lips of a harlot are a dropping honeycomb, and her throat is softer than oil.

Her feet go down unto death, and her steps pierce through unto hell.

She regardeth not the path of life, so unsteadfast are her ways, that thou canst not know them.

Hear me therefore, O my son, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

Keep thy way far from her, and come not nigh the doors of her house:

Let her be as the loving hind, and pleasant roe: let her breasts alway satisfy thee, and hold thee ever content with her love.

Go to the Emmet, thou sluggard: consider her ways, and learn to be wise.

yet in the summer she provideth her meat, and gathereth her food together in the harvest.

that thou lust not after her beauty in thine heart, and lest thou be taken with her fair looks.

Even so, whosoever goeth in to his neighbour's wife, and toucheth her, can not be unguilty.

And behold, there met him a woman with open tokens of a harlot. Only her heart was hid.

Thus with many sweet words she overcame him, and with her flattering lips she enticed him

suddenly to follow her - as it were an ox to the slaughter, and like as it were a fool that laugheth when he goeth to the stocks to be punished -

so long till she hath wounded his liver with her dart: like as if a bird hasted to the snare, not knowing that the peril of his life lieth thereupon.

Hear me now therefore, O my son, and mark the words of my mouth.

Let not thine heart wander in her ways, and be thou not deceived in her paths.

Her houses are the way to hell, where men go down into the chambers of death.

Doth not wisdom cry? Doth not understanding put forth her voice?

She hath killed her victuals, poured out her wine, and prepared her table.

She hath sent forth her maidens to cry upon the highest place of the city:

sitteth in the doors of her house upon a stool above in the city,

But they consider not that death is there, and that her guests go down to hell.

A steadfast woman is a crown unto her husband; but she that behaveth herself dishonestly is a corruption in his bones.

A wise son will receive his father's warning; but he that is scornful, will not hear when he is reproved.

A wise woman upholdeth her house; but a foolish wife plucketh it down.

The hell with her pain is known to the LORD; how much more then the hearts of men?

A troublous soul disquieteth herself; for her own mouth hath brought her thereto.

It were better to come against a she Bear robbed of her whelps, than against a fool in his foolishness.

He that giveth sentence in a matter before he hear it, is a fool, and worthy to be confounded.

O give ear unto good counsel, and be content to be reformed; that thou mayest be wise here after.

A false witness shall perish; but he that will be content to hear, shall always have power to speak himself.

She lurketh like a thief, and those that be not aware, she bringeth unto her.

lest when men hear thereof, it turn to thy dishonour, and lest thine evil name do not cease.

Like as the bird, and the swallow take their flight and flee here and there; so the curse that is given in vain, shall not light upon a man.

He that oft times flitteth, is like a bird that forsaketh her nest.

He that refraineth her, refraineth the wind, and holdeth oil fast in his hand.

Because of sin the land doth oft change her prince; but through men of understanding and wisdom a realm endureth long.

Such is the way also of a wife that breaketh wedlock, which wipeth her mouth like as when she hath eaten, and sayeth, "As for me, I have done no harm."

through an idle housewife, and through a handmaiden that is heir to her mistress.

The spider laboureth with her hands, and that in the kings' palace.

The heart of her husband may safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoils.

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

She occupieth wool and flax, and laboureth gladly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ship, that bringeth her victuals from afar.

She riseth ere day and giveth meat to her household, and food to her maidens.

She considereth land, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and courageth her arms.

And if she perceiveth that her housewifery doth good, her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her fingers to the spindle, and her hand taketh hold of the rock.

She openeth her hand to the poor, yea she stretcheth forth her hands to such as have need

She feareth not that the cold of winter shall hurt her house, for all her household folks are double clothed.

She maketh herself fair ornaments; her clothing is white silk and purple.

Her husband is much set by in the gates, when he sitteth among the rulers of the land.

Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall rejoice.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of grace.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not her bread with idleness.

Her children arise, and call her blessed: and her husband maketh much of her.

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