for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood,

Wisdom calls out in the streets, in the squares she raises her voice.

On a {busy corner} she cries out, at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:

she who forsakes the partner of her youth and has forgotten the covenant of her God,

She is more precious than rubies, and all your desires shall not compare with her.

She is a tree of life for those who seize her; those who take hold of her are considered happy.

Do not forsake her--then she will guard you; love her and she will keep you.

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

She will give a garland for your head; she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you."

Seize the instruction! Do not let go! Guard her, for she is your life.

She does not observe the path of life; her ways wander, [and] she does not know [it].

[She is] a deer of love and a doe of grace; may her breasts satisfy you {always}; by her love may you be intoxicated continually.

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

{When you walk}, she will lead you, {When you lie down}, she will watch over you, and [when] you awake, she will converse [with] you.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart; may she not capture you with her eyelashes.

She is loud and stubborn; her feet do not stay at her house.

Now in the street, now in the square, {at} every corner she lies in wait.

She took hold of him and kissed him. Her face was impudent, and she said to him,

She persuades him with the greatness of her teachings; with her smooth lips she compels him.

For many slain she has laid low, and countless [are] all of her killings.

{Atop the heights} beside the road, at the crossroads she stands.

Beside gates, before towns, [at the] entrance of doors, she cries out:

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.

She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine, [and] also set her table.

She has sent her servant girls, she calls upon the wings of the high places of town,

"Whoever [is] simple, let him turn here." As for the one who lacks {sense}, she says to him,

She sits at the door of her house, upon a throne [at the] high places of town,

"Whoever is simple, may he turn here!" As for he who lacks {sense}, she says to him,

A woman of strength [is] the crown of her master, but like rot in his bones is she who brings shame.

[May] a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring and not a fool in his folly.

Listen to your father--he who {gave you life}, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

May your father and your mother be glad, and may she who bore you rejoice.

She [is] also like a robber lying in wait, and the faithless among mankind she increases.

This is the way of a woman committing adultery: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says "I have not done wrong."

under an unloved woman when she gets married, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.

She does him good, but not harm all the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax, and she works with the diligence of {her hands}.

She is like the ships of a merchant; from far off she brings her food;

And she arises while [it is] still night, and gives food to her household, and tasks to her servant girls.

She considers a field and buys it, from the fruit of {her hand} she plants a vineyard.

She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong.

She perceives that her merchandise [is] good; her lamp does not go out in the night.

Her hands she puts onto the distaff, and her palms hold a spindle.

Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches [out] to the needy.

She does not fear for her house [when] it snows, for {her entire household} is clothed [in] crimson.

She makes for herself coverings; her clothing [is] fine linen and purple.

Linen garments she makes and sells, and she supplies sashes for the merchants.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs {at the future}.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness [is] upon her tongue.

She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat.