1 ¶ Hijo mío, guarda mis razones, y encierra contigo mis mandamientos.

My son, keep my words, and hold together my teachings within you.

2 G uarda mis mandamientos, y vivirás; y mi ley como las niñas de tus ojos.

Keep my words and live. Keep my teachings as you would your own eye.

3 L ígalos a tus dedos; escríbelos en la tabla de tu corazón.

Tie them upon your fingers. Write them upon your heart.

4 D i a la sabiduría: Tú eres mi hermana; y a la inteligencia llama parienta,

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your special friend.

5 p ara que te guarden de la mujer ajena, y de la extraña que ablanda sus palabras.

They will keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger with her smooth words.

6 ¶ Porque mirando yo por la ventana de mi casa, por mi celosía,

For I looked out through the wood-work at the window of my house.

7 v i entre los simples, consideré entre los jóvenes, un joven falto de entendimiento,

And I saw among the child-like and among the young people a young man without wisdom and understanding.

8 e l cual pasaba por la calle, junto a la esquina de aquella, e iba camino de su casa;

He passed through the street near her corner and took the path to her house,

9 a la tarde del día, ya que oscurecía; en la oscuridad y tiniebla de la noche.

in the light of the evening, after it was dark.

10 Y he aquí, una mujer que le sale al encuentro con atavío de ramera, guardada de corazón,

See, a woman comes to meet him. She is dressed like a woman who sells the use of her body, and with a heart that wants to fool and trap someone.

11 a lborotadora y rencillosa, sus pies no pueden estar en casa;

She is loud and has a strong self-will. Her feet do not stay at home.

12 u nas veces de fuera, o bien por las plazas, acechando por todas las esquinas.

She is now in the street, now in the center of town where people gather. She lies in wait at every corner.

13 Y traba de él, y lo besa; desvergonzó su rostro, y le dijo:

So she catches him and kisses him. With a hard face she says to him,

14 S acrificios de paz había prometido, hoy he pagado mis votos;

“It was time for me to give gifts on the altar in worship, and today I have paid what I promised.

15 p or tanto he salido a encontrarte, buscando tu rostro, y te he hallado.

So I have come out to meet you, to look for you, and I have found you.

16 C on paramentos he ataviado mi cama, recamados con cordoncillo de Egipto.

I have spread my bed with coverings of linen cloth from Egypt.

17 H e sahumado mi cámara con mirra, áloes, y canela.

I have perfumed my bed with fine perfumes and spices.

18 V en, embriaguémonos de amores hasta la mañana; alegrémonos en amores.

Come, let us take our fill of love until morning. Let us make ourselves happy with love.

19 P orque el marido no está en casa, se ha ido a un largo viaje;

For my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long trip.

20 e l saco de dinero llevó en su mano, el día de la fiesta volverá a su casa.

He has taken a bag of money with him, and he will come home at full moon.”

21 L o derribó con la mucha suavidad de sus palabras, con la blandura de sus labios le persuadió.

She leads him away with her tempting talk. She tempts him with the smooth words of her lips.

22 S e va en pos de ella luego, como va el buey al degolladero, y como el loco a las prisiones para ser castigado;

All at once he follows her, like a bull going to be killed, like a wild animal goes into a trap,

23 d e tal manera que la saeta traspasó su hígado; como el ave que se apresura al lazo, y no sabe que es contra su vida.

until an arrow cuts through him. Like a bird that hurries into the net, he does not know that he will lose his life.

24 ¶ Ahora pues, hijos, oídme, y estad atentos a las razones de mi boca.

So, my sons, listen to me. Listen to the words of my mouth.

25 N o se aparte a sus caminos tu corazón; no yerres en sus veredas.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not turn aside into her paths.

26 P orque a muchos ha hecho caer muertos; y todos los fuertes han sido muertos por ella.

For she has hurt many and destroyed many others. She has killed a great number.

27 C aminos del Seol son su casa, que descienden a las cámaras de la muerte.

Her house is the way to hell, going down to the rooms of death.