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

Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places.

She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:

She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things thou can desire are to be compared to her.

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her. And happy is everyone who retains her.

Do not forsake her, 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 embrace her.

She will give to thy head a garland of grace, a crown of beauty she will deliver to thee.

Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her 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 does not find the level path of life. Her ways are unstable, [and] she does not know.

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

She is loud and headstrong. Her feet abide not in her house.

Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, and lays in wait at every corner.

So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him,

With her much fair speech she causes him to yield. With the flattering of her lips she forces him along.

For she has 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 stands.

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

Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars.

She has killed her beasts. She has mingled her wine. She has also furnished her table.

She has sent forth her maidens. She cries out upon the highest places of the city:

He who is simple, let him turn in here. As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

And she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

He who is simple, let him turn in here. And as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but she who makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no iniquity.

for a hateful woman when she is married, and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

the lizard takes hold with her hands, yet she is in kings' palaces.

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

She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchant ships: she brings her bread from afar.

She also rises while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and their task to her maidens.

She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She girds her loins with strength, and makes strong her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out by night.

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

She stretches out her hand to the poor, yea, she reaches 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 makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers girdles to the merchant.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, [but] a woman who fears LORD, she shall be praised.