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[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
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