1 ¶ Hijo mío, está atento a mi sabiduría, y a mi inteligencia inclina tu oído;

My son, listen to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding.

2 p ara que guardes consejo, y tus labios conserven la ciencia.

So you may know what is good thinking, and your lips may keep much learning.

3 P orque los labios de la mujer extraña destilan miel, y su paladar es más blando que el aceite;

For the lips of a strange woman are as sweet as honey. Her talk is as smooth as oil.

4 m as su fin es amargo como el ajenjo, agudo como espada de dos filos.

But in the end she is as bitter tasting as wormwood, and as sharp as a sword that cuts both ways.

5 S us pies descienden a la muerte; sus pasos sustentan el Seol;

Her feet go down to death. Her steps take hold of hell.

6 s i no pesares el camino de vida, sus caminos son inestables; no los conocerás.

She does not think about the path of life. Her ways go this way and that, and she does not know it.

7 A hora pues, hijos, oídme, y no os apartéis de las razones de mi boca.

Now then, my sons, listen to me. Do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

8 A leja de ella tu camino, y no te acerques a la puerta de su casa;

Keep far away from her. Do not go near the door of her house.

9 p ara que no des a los extraños tu honor, y tus años al cruel;

If you do, you would give your strength to others, and your years to those without loving-kindness.

10 p ara que no se harten los extraños de tu fuerza, y tus trabajos estén en casa del extraño;

Strangers would be filled with your strength, and the fruits of your work would go to a strange house.

11 y gimas en tus postrimerías, cuando se consumiere tu carne y tu cuerpo,

You would cry inside yourself when your end comes, when your flesh and body are wasted away.

12 y digas: ¡Cómo aborrecí el castigo, y mi corazón menospreció la reprensión;

You would say, “How I have hated teaching! My heart hated strong words!

13 y no oí la voz de los que me castigaban; y a los que me enseñaban no incliné mi oído!

I have not listened to the voice of my teachers. I have not turned my ear to those who would teach me.

14 C asi en todo mal he estado, en medio de la sociedad y de la congregación.

Now I have a bad name in the meeting place of the people.”

15 ¶ Bebe el agua de tu propia cisterna, y las corrientes de tu propio pozo.

Drink water from your own pool, flowing water from your own well.

16 R ebosan por fuera tus fuentes, en las plazas los ríos de tus aguas.

Should the waters from your well flow away, rivers of water in the streets?

17 S ean para ti solo, y no para los extraños contigo.

Let them be yours alone, and not for strangers with you.

18 S erá bendito tu manantial; y alégrate de la mujer de tu juventud.

Let your well be honored, and be happy with the wife you married when you were young.

19 C omo cierva de amores y graciosa gacela, sus pechos te satisfagan en todo tiempo; y en su amor andarás ciego de continuo, sin fijar tus ojos en nadie más.

Let her be like a loving, female deer. Let her breasts please you at all times. Be filled with great joy always because of her love.

20 ¿ Y por qué, hijo mío, andarás ciego con la ajena, y abrazarás el seno de la extraña?

My son, why should you be carried away with a sinful woman and fall into the arms of a strange woman?

21 P ues que los caminos del hombre están ante los ojos del SEÑOR, ¡y él pesa todas sus veredas!

For the ways of a man are seen by the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths.

22 S us propias iniquidades prenderán al impío, y con las cuerdas de su pecado será detenido.

His own sins will trap the sinful. He will be held with the ropes of his sin.

23 E l morirá por no haberse sometido al castigo; y por la grandeza de su locura, errará.

He will die for want of teaching, and will go the wrong way because of the greatness of his foolish ways.