1. My sonne geue heede vnto my wisdome, and bowe thyne eare vnto my prudence:

2. That thou mayest regarde good counsell, and that thy lippes may kepe knowledge.

3. For the lippes of a straunge woman are a dropping hony combe, and her throte is more glistering then oyle:

4. But at the laste she is as bitter as wormewood, and as sharpe as a two edged sworde.

5. Her feete go downe vnto death, and her steppes pearce thorowe vnto hell.

6. Perchaunce thou wylt ponder the path of her lyfe: so vnstedfast are her wayes that thou canst not know them.

7. Heare me nowe therefore O ye chyldren, and depart not from the wordes of my mouth.

8. Kepe thy way farre from her, & come not nigh the doores of her house.

9. That thou geue not thy honour vnto other, and thy yeres to the cruell:

10. That other men be not filled with thy vertues, and that thy labours come not in a straunge house.

11. Yea, that thou mourne not at the last, when thou hast spent thy bodye and lustie youth, and then say:

12. Alas, why hated I nurture? why did my heart dispise correction?

13. Wherefore was not I obedient vnto the voyce of my teachers, and hearkened not vnto them that enfourmed me?

14. I was come almost into all misfortune, in the middest of the multitude and congregation.

15. Drinke of the water of thyne owne well, and of the riuers that runne out of thyne owne spring.

16. Let thy welles flowe out abrode, that there may be riuers of waters in the streates:

17. But let them be onlye thyne owne, and not straungers with thee.

18. Let thy well be blessed, and be glad with the wyfe of thy youth.

19. Let her be as the louyng Hinde and pleasaunt Roe: let her breastes alway satisfie thee, and holde thee euer content with her loue.

20. Why wylt thou my sonne haue pleasure in a straunge woman, and embrace the bosome of a straunger?

21. For euery mans wayes are open in the sight of the Lord, and he pondereth all their goynges.

22. The wickednes of the vngodly shall catche him selfe, and with the snares of his owne sinne shall he be trapped.

23. He shall dye without amendement, and for his great foolishnes he shall go astray.