1Blessed is the man that hath a vertuous wife: for the number of his yeeres shalbe double. 2An honest woman reioyceth her husbande, and she shall fill the yeeres of his life with peace. 3A vertuous woman is a good portion which shalbe giuen for a gift vnto such as feare the Lord. 4Whether a man be rich or poore, he hath a good heart towarde the Lorde, and they shall at all times haue a cheerefull countenance. 5There be three things that mine heart feareth, and my face is afrayde of the fourth: treason in a citie: the assemblie of the people, and false accusation: all these are heauier then death. 6But the sorowe and griefe of the heart is a woman that is ielous ouer another: and she that communeth with all, is a scourge of the tongue. 7An euill wife is as a yoke of oxen that draw diuers wayes: he that hath her, is a though hee helde a scorpion. 8A drunken woman and such as can not be tamed, is a great plague: for she can not couer her owne shame. 9The whoredome of a woman may be knowen in the pride of her eyes, and eye liddes. 10If thy daughter be not shamefast, holde her straitly, least she abuse her selfe through ouermuch libertie. 11Take heede of her that hath an vnshamefast eye: and marueile not if she trespasse against thee. 12As one that goeth by the way, and is thirsty, so shall she open her mouth, and drinke of euery next water: by euery hedge shall she sit downe, & open her quiuer against euery arrowe. 13The grace of a wife reioyceth her husbande, and feedeth his bones with her vnderstanding. 14A peaceable woman and of a good heart is a gifte of the Lorde, and there is nothing so much worth as a woman well instructed. 15A shamefast and faithful woman is a double grace, and there is no weight to be compared vnto her continent minde. 16As the sunne when it ariseth the high places of the Lorde, so is the beautie of a good wife the ornament of her house. 17As the cleere light is vpon the holy candlesticke, so is the beautie of the face in a ripe age. 18As the golden pillars are vpon the sockets of siluer: so are faire feete with a constant minde. 19Perpetuall are the foundations that be laid vpon a strong rocke: so are the commandements of God in the heart of an holy woman. 20My sonne, keepe the strength of thine age stable, and giue not thy strength to strangers. 21When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the fieldes, sowe it with thine owne seede, trusting in thy nobilitie. 22So thy stocke that shall liue after thee, shall grow, trusting in ye great liberalitie of their nobility. 23An harlot is compared to a sowe: but the wife that is marryed, is counted as a towre against death to her husband. 24A wicked woman is giuen as a rewarde to a wicked man: but a godly woman is giuen to him that feareth the Lorde. 25A shameles woman contemneth shame: but a shamefast woman will reuerence her husband. 26A shamelesse woman is compared to a dog: but she that is shamefast, reuerenceth the Lorde. 27A woman that honoureth her husband, shal be iudged wise of all: but she that despiseth him, shalbe blased for her pride. 28A loude crying woman and a babbler let her be sought out to driue away the enemies: the mind of euery man that liueth with such, shalbe conuersant among the troubles of warre. 29There be two things that grieue mine heart, and the thirde maketh me angrie: a man of warre that suffreth pouertie: and men of vnderstanding that are not set by: and when one departeth from righteousnesse vnto sinne: the Lorde appointeth such to the sworde. 30There be two things, which me thinke to be hard and perillous. A marchant can not lightly keepe him from wrong, & a vitailer is not without sinne.