She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.

She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.

Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.

Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.

She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.

Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.

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

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

She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house.

Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road.

So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him:

With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips.

At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;

She has put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed, her table is ready.

She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying,

Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says:

The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at all.

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

Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says:

A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones.

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

Give ear to your father whose child you are, and do not keep honour from your mother when she is old.

Yes, she is waiting secretly like a beast for its food, and deceit by her is increased among men.

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.

This is the way of a false wife; she takes food, and, cleaning her mouth, says, I have done no wrong.

A hated woman when she is married; and a servant-girl who takes the place of her master's wife.

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

She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.

She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.

She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.

After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.

She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.

She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.

She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.

Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.

She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.

She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.

She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.

Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.

She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.