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¹ THE wordes of king Lamuel, and the lesson that his mother taught him.² What my sonne? what the sonne of my body? and what O my deare beloued sonne?³ Geue not ouer thy strength & wayes vnto women, which are the destruction euen of kynges.⁴ O Lamuel, it is not for kynges, it is not [I say] for kynges to drynke wine, nor princes strong drynke.⁵ Lest they by drnkyng forget the lawe, and peruert the iudgement of all poore mens children.⁶ Geue strong drynke vnto such as are redy to perishe, and wine vnto those that mourne:⁷ That they may drynke it, and forget their miserie and aduersitie.⁸ Be thou an aduocate for the dumbe, [to speake] in the cause of all such as be succourlesse in this transitorie worlde.⁹ Open thy mouth, defende the thyng that is lawfull and ryght, and the cause of the poore and helpelesse.

¹⁰ Who so fyndeth an honest faythfull woman, she is much more worth then pearles.¹¹ The heart of her husbande may safely trust in her, so that he shall fall into no pouertie.¹² She wyll do hym good, and not euill, all the dayes of her lyfe.¹³ She occupieth wooll and flaxe, and laboureth gladly with her handes.¹⁴ She is like a marchauntes ship, that bryngeth her vittayles from a farre.¹⁵ She is vp in the nyght season, to prouide meate for her housholde, and foode for her maydens.¹⁶ She considereth lande, and byeth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.¹⁷ She girdeth her loynes with strength, and fortifieth her armes.¹⁸ And yf she perceaue that her huswiferie doth good, her candell goeth not out by nyght.¹⁹ She layeth her fingers to the spindle, & her hande taketh holde of the distaffe.²⁰ She openeth her hande to the poore, yea she stretcheth foorth her handes to such as haue neede.²¹ She feareth not that the colde of wynter shall hurt her housholde, for all her housholde folkes are clothed with scarlet.²² She maketh her selfe faire ornametes, her clothyng is white silke and purple.²³ Her husbande is much set by in the gates, when he sitteth among the rulers of the lande.²⁴ She maketh cloth of silke, and selleth it: and deliuereth girdles vnto the marchaunt.²⁵ Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and in her tongue is the lawe of grace.²⁷ She loketh well to the wayes of her housholde: and eateth not her bread with idlenesse.²⁸ Her children arise vp & call her blessed: and her husbande shall make much of her.²⁹ Many daughters [there be that] gather riches together: but thou goest aboue them all.³⁰ As for fauour it is deceiptfull, & beautie is a vayne thyng: but a woman that feareth the Lorde, shalbe praysed.³¹ Geue her of the fruite of her handes: and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.