For their feet run to evil, and are hasty to shed blood.

She calleth before the congregation in the open gates, and showeth her words through the city, saying,

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and blessed are they that keep her fast.

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

Make much of her and she shall promote thee: Yea, if thou embracest her, she shall bring thee unto honour.

She shall make thee a gracious head, and garnish thee with the crown of glory."

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

But at the last she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two edged sword.

She regardeth not the path of life, so unsteadfast are her ways, that thou canst not know them.

She hath no guide, no teacher, no leader:

yet in the summer she provideth her meat, and gathereth her food together in the harvest.

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

That she may keep thee from the strange woman, and from the harlot which giveth sweet words.

She was full of loud words and ready to dally: whose feet could not abide in the house.

Now is she without, now in the streets, and lurketh in every corner.

She caught the young man, kissed him, and was not ashamed, saying,

Thus with many sweet words she overcame him, and with her flattering lips she enticed 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 many a one hath she wounded and cast down, yea many a strong man hath she slain.

Standeth she not in the high places in the streets and ways?

Doth she not cry before the whole city, and in the gates where men go out and in?

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

She hath killed her victuals, poured out her wine, and prepared her table.

She hath sent forth her maidens to cry upon the highest place of the city:

"Whoso is ignorant, let him come hither!" And to the unwise she said,

"Who so is ignorant," sayeth she, "let him come hither." And to the unwise she sayeth,

A steadfast woman is a crown unto her husband; but she that behaveth herself dishonestly is a corruption in his bones.

It were better to come against a she Bear robbed of her whelps, than against a fool in his foolishness.

Give ear unto thy father that begat thee; and despise not thy mother when she is old.

She lurketh like a thief, and those that be not aware, she bringeth unto her.

Such is the way also of a wife that breaketh wedlock, which wipeth her mouth like as when she hath eaten, and sayeth, "As for me, I have done no harm."

Whoso findeth a honest faithful woman, she is much more worth than pearls.

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

She occupieth wool and flax, and laboureth gladly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ship, that bringeth her victuals from afar.

She riseth ere day and giveth meat to her household, and food to her maidens.

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

She girdeth her loins with strength, and courageth her arms.

And if she perceiveth that her housewifery doth good, her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her fingers to the spindle, and her hand taketh hold of the rock.

She openeth her hand to the poor, yea she stretcheth forth her hands to such as have need

She feareth not that the cold of winter shall hurt her house, for all her household folks are double clothed.

She maketh herself fair ornaments; her clothing is white silk and purple.

She maketh cloth of silk and selleth it, and delivereth a girdle unto the merchant.

Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall rejoice.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of grace.

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

Favour is a deceitful thing, and beauty is vanity; but a woman that feareth God, she shall be praised.