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

Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:

She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.

Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.

She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.

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

But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.

So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and'she knoweth it not.

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood;

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

Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.

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

With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.

For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;

Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:

Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:

She hath killed her beasts; She hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table:

She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

The foolish woman is clamorous;'she is'simple, and knoweth nothing.

And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.

Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men.

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

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.

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.