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[1]Happy is the man that hath a vertuous wyfe: for the nuber of his yeres shalbe double.
[2]An honest woman maketh her husbande a ioyfull man, and she shall fill the yeres of his lyfe in peace.
[3]A vertuous woman is a noble gift, whiche shalbe geuen for a good portion vnto such as feare God:
[4]Whether a man be riche or poore, he may haue euer a mery heart, & a cheareful countenaunce.
[5]There be three thinges that my heart feareth, and my face is afrayde of the fourth: treason in a citie, a seditious people, and noysome tongues: all these are heauyer then the death.
[6]When one woman is ielous ouer an other, it bringeth payne and sorowe vnto the heart: and a woman that telleth out all thinges, is a scourge of the tongue.
[7]When one hath an euyll wyfe, it is euen as when an vnlyke payre of oxen must drawe together: he that getteth her, getteth a scorpion.
[8]A drunken woman is a great plague: for she can not couer her owne shame.
[9]The whordome of a woman may be knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye liddes.
[10]If thy daughter be not shamefast, hold her straytly, lest she abuse her selfe thorowe ouer much libertie.
[11]Beware of all the dishonestie of her eyes, & maruel not if she do against thee.
[12]As a way faring man that is thirstie, when he hath founde a well drinketh of euery water: so will she sit downe by euery hedge, and make her selfe common to euery man that passeth by.
[13]A louing wyfe reioyceth her husbande, & feedeth his bones with her wysdome.
[14]A woman of fewe wordes is a gift of God: to all nurtured myndes may nothing be compared.
[15]An honest and manerly woman is a gift aboue other giftes: and there is no wayght to be compared vnto a minde that can rule it selfe.
[16]Like as the sunne when it ariseth, is an ornament in the hie heauen of the Lord: so is a vertuous wyfe the beautie of all her house.
[17]Like as the cleare light is vpon the holy candelsticke: so is the beautie of the face vpon an honest body.
[18]Like as the golden pillers are vpon the sockettes of siluer: so are the fayre feete vpon a woman that hath a constant mynde.
[19]Perpetual are the foundations that be layed vpon a whole stony rocke: so are the commaundementes of God vpon the heart of an holy woman.
[20]There be two thinges that greeue my heart, & in the thirde is displeasure come vpo me: When an experte man of warre suffreth scarsenesse and pouertie, when men of vnderstanding and wisdome are not set by, and when one departeth from righteousnesse vnto sinne: Who so doth such, the Lorde hath prepared him vnto the sworde.
[21]There be two maner of thinges which me thinke to be harde and perilous: A marchaunt can not lightly kepe hym from wrong, neither a tauerner hym selfe from sinne.
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