Wisdom, in the open place, soundeth forth, in the broadways, she raiseth her voice;

At the head of bustling streets, she crieth aloud, - at the openings of the gates in the city - her sayings, she doth utter: -

If thou seek her as silver, and, like hid treasure, thou search for her,

To rescue thee, from the woman that is a stranger, from the female unknown, who with her speeches seduceth;

Who forsaketh the friend of her youth, and, the covenant of her God, hath forgotten;

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

None who go in unto her, come back, neither attain they unto the paths of life:

For better is her merchandise, than the merchandise of silver, yea, than gold, her increase;

More precious, is she, than corals, yea, none of thy delightful things, doth equal her:

Length of days, is in her right hand, in her left, are riches and honour;

Her ways, are ways of pleasantness, and, all her paths, are peace;

A tree of life, is she, to them who secure her, - and, they who hold her fast, are every one to be pronounced happy.

Do not forsake her, and she will guard thee, - love her and she will keep thee.

Exalt her, and she will set thee on high, she will bring thee to honour, when thou dust embrace her:

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

For, with sweet droppings, drip the lips of her that is a stranger, and, smoother than oil, is her mouth;

But, the latter end of her, is bitter as wormwood, sharp, as a two-edged sword!

Her feet, are going down to death, - on hades, will her steps take firm hold.

Lest, the path of life, she should ponder, her tracks have wandered she knoweth not whither .

Keep far from her thy way, and do not go near the opening of her house:

A loving hind! a graceful doe! let, her bosom, content thee at all times, and, in her love, mayst thou stray evermore.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard, observe her ways, and be wise;

Prepareth, in the summer, her food, hath collected, in the harvest, her sustenance.

To keep thee from the wicked woman, from the flattery of the tongue of her that is a stranger.

Do not covet her beauty, in thy heart, neither let her take thee, by her eyelashes;

So, he that goeth in unto his neighbour's wife, no man shall be guiltless who toucheth her!

That thou mayest be kept, from the woman that is a stranger, from the female unknown, who, with her speeches, doth flatter.

Passing through the street, near her corner, and, on the way to her house, he sauntered along;

Boisterous, is she, and rebellious, In her house, abide not her feet;

So she caught him, and kissed him, and, embolding her face, she said to him:

She turneth him aside, with her great persuasiveness, - with the flattery of her lips, she compelleth him:

Going after her instantly, as an ox, to the slaughter, he entereth, and, as in fetters, unto the correction of a fool.

Let not thy heart, turn aside to her ways, Do not go astray, in her paths.

For, many, wounded, hath she caused to fail, - yea strong men, slain wholly by her:

Ways to hades, are in her house, descending into the chambers of death.

Doth not, wisdom, cry aloud? and, understanding, send forth her voice?

At the top of the high places above the way, at the place where paths meet, she taketh her stand:

For better is wisdom, than ornaments of coral, and, no delightful things, can equal her.

Wisdom, hath builded her house, hath hewn out her seven pillars;

hath slaughtered her beasts, hath mingled her wine, hath even set in order her table;

hath sent forth her maidens, She crieth aloud, upon the tops of the heights of the city:

So she sitteth at the entrance of her house, upon a seat, in the heights of the city;

But he knoweth not, that the shades are there; In the depths of hades, are her guests.

A virtuous woman, is the crown of her husband, but, a veritable decay in his bones, is she that causeth shame.

Every, wise woman, buildeth up her house, but, a foolish one, with her own hands, would break it down.

Better he that is slow to anger, than a hero, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that captureth a city.

A vexation to his father, is the son that is a dullard, and a bitterness, to her that bare him.

Hearken to thy father here, who begat thee, and despise not, when she is old, thy mother.

As a bird wandering from her nest, so, is a man wandering from his place.

He that hideth her, hideth the wind, and, perfume, his right hand may proclaim.

So, is the way of a woman committing adultery, - she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no iniquity!

Under a hateful woman, when she is married, and a handmaid when she driveth out her mistress.

The lion, hero among beasts, which turneth aside from the face of no one;

A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.

The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:

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 ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;

And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:

She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:

She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:

She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:

Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:

Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:

She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:

Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:

Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:

Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:

Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:

She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.

Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: -

Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.