1 L os proverbios de Salomón, hijo de David, rey de Israel:

These are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 P ara conocer sabiduría y castigo; para entender las razones prudentes;

They show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding.

3 p ara recibir el castigo de prudencia, justicia, juicio y equidad;

They help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair.

4 p ara dar prudencia a los simples, y a los jóvenes inteligencia y consejo.

They give wisdom to the child-like, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young.

5 S i el sabio los oyere, aumentará la doctrina; y el entendido adquirirá consejo;

A wise man will hear and grow in learning. A man of understanding will become able

6 p ara entender parábola y declaración; palabras de sabios, y sus enigmas.

to understand a saying and a picture-story, the words of the wise and what they mean.

7 ¶ El principio del conocimiento es el temor del SEÑOR; los locos despreciaron la sabiduría y el castigo.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of much learning. Fools hate wisdom and teaching.

8 O ye, hijo mío, el castigo de tu padre, y no deseches la ley de tu madre;

Hear your father’s teaching, my son, and do not turn away from your mother’s teaching.

9 p orque aumento de gracia serán a tu cabeza, y protección a tu cuello.

For they are a glory to your head and a chain of beauty around your neck.

10 ¶ Hijo mío, si los pecadores te quisieren engañar, no consientas.

My son, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not go with them.

11 S i dijeren: Ven con nosotros, espiemos a alguno para matarle, acechemos al inocente sin razón;

If they say, “Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us set a trap for those who are without blame.

12 l os tragaremos vivos como el Seol, y enteros, como los que caen en un abismo;

Let us swallow them alive like death, as those who go down to the grave.

13 h allaremos riquezas de toda clase, llenaremos nuestras casas de despojos;

We will find all kinds of things of great worth. We will fill our houses with the stolen riches.

14 e cha tu suerte entre nosotros; tengamos todos una bolsa,

Throw in your share with us. We will all have one money bag.”

15 h ijo mío, no andes en camino con ellos; aparta tu pie de sus veredas;

My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path.

16 p orque sus pies correrán al mal, e irán presurosos a derramar sangre.

For their feet run to sin and hurry to kill.

17 P orque en vano se tenderá la red ante los ojos de toda ave;

Yes, the net is spread for nothing if the bird is watching.

18 m as ellos a su propia sangre espían, y a sus propias almas ponen asechanza.

They set traps for their own lives and wait to die.

19 T ales son las sendas de todo el que codicia la ganancia, la cual prenderá la vida de sus poseedores.

Such are the ways of all who get things by hurting others. Their desire for stolen riches takes away their own lives.

20 ¶ La sabiduría clama de fuera; en las plazas da su voz;

Wisdom calls out in the street. She lifts her voice in the center of town.

21 c lama en los principales lugares de concurso; en las entradas de las puertas de la ciudad dice sus razones:

There she cries out in the noisy streets. At the open gates of the city she speaks:

22 ¿ Hasta cuándo, oh simples, amaréis la simpleza, y los burladores desearán el burlar, y los locos aborrecerán la ciencia?

“O foolish ones, how long will you love being foolish? How long will those who laugh at others be happy in their laughing? How long will fools hate much learning?

23 V olveos a mi reprensión; he aquí yo os derramaré mi espíritu, y os haré saber mis palabras.

Listen to my strong words! See, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.

24 P or cuanto llamé, y no quisisteis; extendí mi mano, y no hubo quien escuchara;

I called but you would not listen. I put out my hand and no one gave it a thought.

25 a ntes desechasteis todo consejo mío, y no quisisteis mi reprensión;

You did not listen when I told you what you should do, and you would not hear any of my strong words.

26 t ambién yo me reiré en vuestra calamidad, y me burlaré cuando os viniere lo que teméis;

So I will laugh at your trouble. I will laugh when you are afraid.

27 c uando viniere como una destrucción lo que teméis, y vuestra calamidad llegare como un torbellino; cuando sobre vosotros viniere tribulación y angustia.

Fear will come to you like a storm. Hard times will come like a strong wind. When trouble and suffering come upon you,

28 E ntonces me llamarán, y no responderé; me buscarán de mañana, y no me hallarán;

then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me.

29 p or cuanto aborrecieron el conocimiento, y no escogieron el temor del SEÑOR,

Because they hated much learning, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

30 n i quisieron mi consejo, y menospreciaron toda reprensión mía.

They would not listen when I told them what they should do. They laughed at all my strong words.

31 C omerán, pues, del fruto de su camino, y de sus consejos se hartarán.

So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own plans.

32 P orque el reposo de los ignorantes los matará, y la prosperidad de los locos los echará a perder.

For the foolish will be killed by their turning away. The trust that fools put in themselves will destroy them.

33 M as el que me oyere, habitará confiadamente, y vivirá reposado del temor del mal.

But he who listens to me will live free from danger, and he will rest easy from the fear of what is sinful.”