The wise will hear and increase their learning,
And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth],

My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not reject the teaching of your mother.

Wisdom shouts in the street,
She raises her voice in the markets;

To keep you from the immoral woman;
From the seductress with her flattering words,

Who leaves the companion (husband) of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.

For her house leads down to death
And her paths lead to the dead;

None who go to her return again,
Nor do they regain the paths of life—

She is more precious than rubies;
And nothing you can wish for compares with her [in value].

Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.

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

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is everyone who holds her tightly.

Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,
And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.

“Do not turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.

“Prize wisdom [and exalt her], and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.

Hear, my son, and accept my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.

Take hold of instruction; [actively seek it, grip it firmly and] do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.

For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey [like a honeycomb]
And her speech is smoother than oil;

Her feet go down to death;
Her steps take hold of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead),

So that she does not think [seriously] about the path of life;
Her ways are aimless and unstable; you cannot know where her path leads.

Let your way [in life] be far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house [avoid even being near the places of temptation],

Let her be as a loving hind and graceful doe,
Let her breasts refresh and satisfy you at all times;
Always be exhilarated and delight in her love.

Go to the ant, O lazy one;
Observe her ways and be wise,

She prepares her food in the summer
And brings in her provisions [of food for the winter] in the harvest.

Do not desire (lust after) her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her eyelashes.

So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her will not be found innocent or go unpunished.

That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the foreigner [who does not observe God’s laws and] who flatters with her [smooth] words.

Passing through the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house

She was boisterous and rebellious;
She would not stay at home.

At times she was in the streets, at times in the market places,
Lurking and setting her ambush at every corner.

With her many persuasions she caused him to yield;
With her flattering lips she seduced him.

Suddenly he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter [not knowing the outcome],
Or as one in stocks going to the correction [to be given] to a fool,

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her [evil, immoral] paths.

For she has cast down many [mortally] wounded;
Indeed, all who were killed by her were strong.

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

Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?

“Listen, for I will speak excellent and noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.

“Heed (pay attention to) instruction and be wise,
And do not ignore or neglect it.

Wisdom has built her [spacious and sufficient] house;
She has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine;
She has also set her table.

She has sent out her maidens, she calls
From the highest places of the city:

“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says,

She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by the high and conspicuous places of the city,

“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks understanding (common sense), she says,

But he does not know that the spirits of the dead are there,
And that her guests are [already] in the depths of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

A gracious and good woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].

A virtuous and excellent wife [worthy of honor] is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him [with her foolishness] is like rottenness in his bones.

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 wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs
Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly.

A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father
And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.

Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction,
That you may be wise in the time to come.

Cease listening, my son, to instruction and discipline
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way [of the Lord].

Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who gave birth to you rejoice [in your wise and godly choices].

For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,
So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving].

Like a bird that wanders from her nest [with its comfort and safety],
So is a man who wanders from his home.

This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth
And says, “I have done no wrong.”

Under an unloved woman when she gets married,
And under a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

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.

The heart of her husband trusts in her [with secure confidence],
And he will have no lack of gain.

She comforts, encourages, and does him only good and not evil
All the days of her life.

She is like the merchant ships [abounding with treasure];
She brings her [household’s] food from far away.

She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And assigns tasks to her maids.

She considers a field before she buys or accepts it [expanding her business prudently];
With her profits she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

She equips herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task]
And makes her arms strong.

She sees that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out, but it burns continually through the night [she is prepared for whatever lies ahead].

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands hold the spindle [as she spins wool into thread for clothing].

She opens and extends her hand to the poor,
And she reaches out her filled hands to the needy.

She does not fear the snow for her household,
For all in her household are clothed in [expensive] scarlet [wool].

She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry.
Her clothing is linen, pure and fine, and purple [wool].

Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure;
And she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared].

She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction].

She looks well to how things go in her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired);
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying,

Give her of the product of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city].