The praises of a good woman. 5. The betraying of a city, mutiny of people, and false accusation are terrible, but a jealous woman is more grievous. 10. Divers ill qualities of a bad woman. 16. More commendations of a good woman. 25. A doleful thing to see a valiant warrior wanting livelihood, a wise man not regarded, and greatest grief to see a just man become wicked. 28. A man full of business hardly careth for his soul: and an innkeeper often sinneth in words.The praises of a good woman. 5. The betraying of a citie, mutenie of people, and false accusation are terrible, but a ielous woman is more greuous. 10. Diuers il qualities of a bad woman. 16. More commendations of a good woman. 25. A doleful thing to see a valiant warier wanting liuelihood, a wiseman not regarded, and greatest griefe to see a iust man become wicked. 28. A manful of busines hardly careth for his soule: and an Inne keper often sinneth in wordes.✦
The husband of a good wife is happy: for the number of his years is double.THE husband of a good wife is happie: for the number of his yeares is duble.✦Mulieris bonæ beatus vir : numerus enim annorum illius duplex.
2A strong woman delighteth her husband, and shall accomplish the years of his life in peace.A strong woman delighteth her husband, and shal accomplish the yeares of his life in peace.✦Mulier fortis oblectat virum suum, et annos vitæ illius in pace implebit.
3A good woman is a good portion, in the good portion of them that fear God shall she be given to a man for good deeds:A good woman is a good portion, in the good portion of them that feare God shal she be geuen to a man for good deedes:✦Pars bona mulier bona, in parte timentium Deum dabitur viro pro factis bonis :
4And the heart of rich and poor is good, at all time their countenance is merry.And the hart of rich and poore is good, at al time their countenance is merie.✦divitis autem et pauperis cor bonum, in omni tempore vultus illorum hilaris.
5Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the fourth my face hath trembled:Of three thinges my hart hath bene afraid, and at the fourth my face hath trembled:✦A tribus timuit cor meum, et in quarto facies mea metuit :
6The betraying of a city, and a gathering together of the people:The betraying of a citie, and a gethering together of the people:delaturam civitatis, et collectionem populi :
7false calumny, all more grievous than death.false calumnie, al more greuous then death.calumniam mendacem super mortem omnia gravia :
8A jealous woman, is the sorrow and mourning of the heart.A ielous woman, is the sorow and moorning of the hart.dolor cordis et luctus, mulier zelotypa.
9In a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue, communicating with all.In a ielous woman is a scourge of the tongue, communicating with al.In muliere zelotypa flagellum linguæ, omnibus communicans.
10As a yoke of oxen, that is moved, so also a wicked woman: he that holdeth her, is as he that taketh hold of a scorpion.As a yoke of oxen, that is moued, so also a wicked woman: he that holdeth her, is as he that taketh hold of a scorpion.✦Sicut boum jugum quod movetur, ita et mulier nequam : qui tenet illam quasi qui apprehendit scorpionem.
11A woman given to drunkenness is great anger: and her contumelia: insolent reproach, abusive insult and turpitudo: shameful baseness, disgraceful conduct shall not be hid.A woman geuen to drunkennes is great anger: & her contumelie and turpitude shal not be hid.✦Mulier ebriosa ira magna, et contumelia : et turpitudo illius non tegetur.
12The fornication of a woman shall be known in the lifting up of her eyes, and in her eyelids.The fornication of a woman shal be knowen in the lifting vp of her eies, and in her cieliddes.✦Fornicatio mulieris in extollentia oculorum, et in palpebris illius agnoscetur.
13On thy daughter that turneth not away herself, set sure watch: lest occasion found she abuse herself.On thy daughter that turneth not away her self, set sure watche: lest occasion found she abuse herself.✦In filia non avertente se, firma custodiam, ne inventa occasione utatur se.
14Take heed of the impudency of her eyes, and marvel not if she neglexerit: scorn, slight, treat with disdain thee.Take heede of the impudencie of her eies, and meruel not if she contemne thee.✦Ab omni irreverentia oculorum ejus cave, et ne mireris si te neglexerit.
15As a wayfaring man that thirsteth, will she open her mouth to the fountain, and will drink of every water that is next, and will sit against every hedge, and open her quiver against every arrow, until she fail.As a wayfaring man that thirsteth, wil she open her mouth to the fountaine, and wil drinke of euerie water that is next, and wil sit against euerie hedge, and open her quiuer against euerie arrow, vntil she faile.✦Sicut viator sitiens ad fontem os aperiet, et ab omni aqua proxima bibet, et contra omnem palum sedebit, et contra omnem sagittam aperiet pharetram donec deficiat.
16The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband, and shall fat his bones.The grace of a diligent woman shal delight her husband, and shal fatte his bones.✦Gratia mulieris sedulæ delectabit virum suum, et ossa illius impinguabit.
17Her discipline is the gift of God.Her discipline is the gift of God.✦Disciplina illius datum Dei est.
18A wise and still woman, there is no exchange for a soul instructed.A wise and stil woman, there is no exchange for a soule instructed.✦Mulier sensata et tacita, non est immutatio eruditæ animæ.
19A holy, and pudorata: modest, bashful, held fast by a sense of shame woman, is grace upon grace.A holie, and shamefast woman, is grace vpon grace.✦Gratia super gratiam mulier sancta et pudorata.
20And all weight is not worthy a continentis: a landmass; self-restrained, temperate, master of the appetites soul.And al weight is not worthie a continent soule.✦Omnis autem ponderatio non est digna continentis animæ.
21As the sun rising to the world in the highest places of God, so is the beauty of a good woman for an ornament of her house.As the sunne rysing to the world in the highest places of God, so is the beautie of a good woman for an ornament of her house.✦Sicut sol oriens mundo in altissimis Dei, sic mulieris bonæ species in ornamentum domus ejus.
22A lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, and the beauty of the face upon stabilem: remained; settled, staid, of sober constancy age.A lampe shyning vpon the holie candlesticke, & the beautie of the face vpon stayed age.✦Lucerna splendens super candelabrum sanctum, et species faciei super ætatem stabilem.
23Pillars of gold upon feet of silver, and stable feet upon the soles of a stayed woman.Pillars of gold vpon feete of siluer, and stable feete vpon the soules of a stayed woman.✦Columnæ aureæ super bases argenteas, et pedes firmi super plantas stabilis mulieris.
24Eternal foundations upon a sound rock, and the commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman.Eternal fundations vpon a sound rocke, and the commandments of God in the hart of a holie woman.✦Fundamenta æterna supra petram solidam, et mandata Dei in corde mulieris sanctæ.
25At two things my heart is grieved, and at the third anger is come upon me:At two thinges my hart is greeued, and at the third anger is come vpon me:In duobus contristatum est cor meum, et in tertio iracundia mihi advenit :
26A man of war decaying by poverty: and a wise man contemned:A man of warre decaying by pouertie: and a wise man contemned:vir bellator deficiens per inopiam ; et vir sensatus contemptus ;
27and he that transgresseth from justice to sin, God hath prepared him to the sword.and he that transgresseth from iustice to sinne, God hath prepared him to the sword.et qui transgreditur a justitia ad peccatum : Deus paravit eum ad rhomphæam.
28Two sorts have appeared unto me hard and dangerous, a merchant is hardly rid of negligence: and a caupo: a victualler, innkeeper or tavern-keeper who sells food and drink shall not be justified from the sins of the lips.Two sortes haue appeared vnto me hard and dangerous, a merchant is hardly rid of negligence: and a viteler shal not be iustified from the sinnes of the lippes.✦Duæ species difficiles et periculosæ mihi apparuerunt : difficile exuitur negotians a negligentia, et non justificabitur caupo a peccatis labiorum.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.