If they say, "Come with us! We will lie in wait to shed blood; we will ambush an innocent person capriciously.

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Wisdom cries aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open square:

She cries in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she utters her words, saying,

she who forsakes the partner of her youth and has forgotten the covenant of her God,

For she hath appointed, unto death, her house, and unto the shades, her courses;

for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared unto her.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is everyone that retains her.

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

Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her.

She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.

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

in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood
and as sharp as a double-edged sword.

She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways are uncertain, she has no knowledge.

[She is] a deer of love and a doe of grace; may her breasts satisfy you {always}; by her love may you be intoxicated continually.

She hath no guide, no teacher, no leader:

She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting.

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

{When you walk}, she will lead you, {When you lie down}, she will watch over you, and [when] you awake, she will converse [with] you.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart; may she not capture you with her eyelashes.

She will keep you from a forbidden woman,
a stranger with her flattering talk.

Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent.

(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

Now is she outside, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner.)

So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she seduced him.

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.

For she has cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance at the doors.

"It is you, O ye men," sayeth she, "whom I call! Unto you, O ye children of men, lift I up my voice.

Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:

She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also furnished her table.

She has sent forth her maidens: she cries upon the highest places of the city,

Whosoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him,

A foolish woman is boisterous: she is simple, and knows nothing.

For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says:

Whosoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him,

A ring of gold in the nose of a swine, a fair woman and she departed from discernment

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that makes ashamed is like rottenness in his bones.

The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them.

Wisdom has her resting-place in the mind of the wise, but she is not seen among the foolish.

[May] a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring and not a fool in his folly.

He withholding his words will shew knowledge: I man of understanding is a cool spirit

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,

Hearken unto your father that begat you, and despise not your mother when she is old.

Your father and your mother shall be glad, and she that bore you shall rejoice.

She also lies in wait as for a prey, and increases the unfaithful among men.

Whoever attempts to restrain her [criticism] might as well try to stop the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.

The eye which makes sport of a father, and sees no value in a mother when she is old will be rooted out by the ravens of the valley, and be food for the young eagles.

So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, And saith, I have done no wickedness.

Under three things, a land is stirred, yea, under four, she cannot bear up:

For an odious woman when she is married; And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

The lizard taketh hold with her hands, Yet is she in kings palaces.

Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.

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 merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.

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

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

She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, 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 for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.

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

Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.

Give her credit for what she has accomplished, and let her works praise her in the city gates.