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

Wisdom crieth without; she raiseth her voice in the broadways;

she calleth in the chief place of concourse, in the entry of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words:

She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.

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

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her.

She shall give to thy head a garland of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow upon thee.

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

Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not whither.

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;

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

now without, now in the broadways, and she lieth in wait at every corner.

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

With her much enticement she beguiled him; with the smoothness of her lips she constrained him.

for she hath cast down many wounded, and all slain by her were strong.

On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.

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

Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;

she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;

she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,

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

And she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

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

A woman of worth is a crown to 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.

She also lieth in wait as a robber, and increaseth the treacherous among men.

Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

under an odious woman when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress.

thou takest hold of the lizard with the 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 merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;

And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.

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

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

She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.

She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and 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 herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.

She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth at the coming day.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.

She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

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