Wisdom calls out in the street;
she raises her voice in the public squares.

She cries out above the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels;
nothing you desire compares with her.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;
love her, and she will guard you.

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.

She will place a garland of grace on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.”

in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood
and as sharp as a double-edged sword.

She doesn’t consider the path of life;
she doesn’t know that her ways are unstable.

arrogant eyes, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,

She will keep you from a forbidden woman,
a stranger with her flattering talk.

She is loud and defiant;
her feet do not stay at home.

Now in the street, now in the squares,
she lurks at every corner.

She grabs him and kisses him;
she brazenly says to him,

She seduces him with her persistent pleading;
she lures with her flattering talk.

For she has brought many down to death;
her victims are countless.

At the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads, she takes her stand.

Beside the gates at the entry to the city,
at the main entrance, she cries out:

Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved out her seven pillars.

She has prepared her meat; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.

She has sent out her female servants;
she calls out from the highest points of the city:

“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,

The woman Folly is rowdy;
she is gullible and knows nothing.

She sits by the doorway of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,

“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,

Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;
she is known even among fools.

Listen to your father who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber
and increases those among men who are unfaithful.

This is the way of an adulteress:
she eats and wipes her mouth
and says, “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

an unloved woman when she marries,
and a servant girl when she ousts her queen.

Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.

She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.

She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her female servants.

She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.

She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.

She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.

She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.

Her hands reach out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.

She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom
and loving instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the activities of her household
and is never idle.