She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
“At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.
Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.”
A kind-hearted woman gains honour,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it
but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”
