1 M ás vale el buen nombre que las muchas riquezas, y el favor que la plata y el oro.

A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better than silver and gold.

2 E l rico y el pobre tienen un lazo común: el que hizo a ambos es el Señor.

The rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of them all.

3 E l prudente ve el mal y se esconde, mas los simples siguen adelante y son castigados.

A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the foolish go on, and are punished for it.

4 L a recompensa de la humildad y el temor del Señor son la riqueza, el honor y la vida.

The reward for not having pride and having the fear of the Lord is riches, honor and life.

5 E spinos y lazos hay en el camino del perverso; el que cuida su alma se alejará de ellos.

Thorns and traps are in the way of the sinful. He who watches himself will stay far from them.

6 E nseña al niño el camino en que debe andar, y aun cuando sea viejo no se apartará de él.

Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.

7 E l rico domina a los pobres, y el deudor es esclavo del acreedor.

The rich rules over the poor. The man who uses something that belongs to someone else is ruled by the one who let him use it.

8 E l que siembra iniquidad segará vanidad, y la vara de su furor perecerá.

He who plants sin will gather trouble, and the heavy stick of his anger will break.

9 E l generoso será bendito, porque da de su pan al pobre.

He who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

10 E cha fuera al escarnecedor y saldrá la discordia, y cesarán también la contienda y la ignominia.

Send away the man who laughs at the truth, and arguing, fighting and shame will stop.

11 E l que ama la pureza de corazón tiene gracia en sus labios, y el rey es su amigo.

He who loves a pure heart and is kind in his speaking has the king as his friend.

12 L os ojos del Señor guardan el conocimiento, pero El confunde las palabras del pérfido.

The eyes of the Lord keep watch over much learning, but He destroys the words of the man who is not faithful.

13 E l perezoso dice: Hay un león afuera; seré muerto en las calles.

The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”

14 F osa profunda es la boca de las mujeres extrañas; el que es maldito del Señor caerá en ella.

The mouth of a sinful woman is a deep hole. He with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

15 L a necedad está ligada al corazón del niño; la vara de la disciplina la alejará de él.

A foolish way is held in the heart of a child, but the punishing stick will send it far from him.

16 E l que oprime al pobre para engrandecerse, o da al rico, sólo llegará a la pobreza. Preceptos y amonestaciones

He who makes it hard for the poor by getting more for himself, or who gives to the rich, will become poor himself.

17 I nclina tu oído y oye las palabras de los sabios, y aplica tu corazón a mi conocimiento;

Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise, and open your mind to what they teach.

18 p orque te será agradable si las guardas dentro de ti, para que estén listas en tus labios.

For it will be pleasing if you keep them in your heart, so they may be ready on your lips.

19 P ara que tu confianza esté en el Señor, te he instruido hoy a ti también.

I have taught you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the Lord.

20 ¿ No te he escrito cosas excelentes de consejo y conocimiento,

Have I not written to you great things of wise teaching and much learning

21 p ara hacerte saber la certeza de las palabras de verdad, a fin de que respondas correctamente al que te ha enviado ?

to show you that the words of truth are sure, so you may give a true answer to him who sent you?

22 N o robes al pobre, porque es pobre, ni aplastes al afligido en la puerta;

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush those who suffer at the gate.

23 p orque el Señor defenderá su causa, y quitará la vida de los que los roban.

For the Lord will stand by them and help them, and take the life of those who rob them.

24 N o te asocies con el hombre iracundo; ni andes con el hombre violento,

Do not have anything to do with a man given to anger, or go with a man who has a bad temper.

25 n o sea que aprendas sus maneras, y tiendas lazo para tu vida.

Or you might learn his ways and get yourself into a trap.

26 N o estés entre los que dan fianzas, entre los que salen de fiadores de préstamos.

Do not be among those who make promises and put themselves up as trust for what others owe.

27 S i no tienes con qué pagar, ¿por qué han de quitarte la cama de debajo de ti ?

If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?

28 N o muevas el lindero antiguo que pusieron tus padres.

Do not take away the old land-mark which your fathers have set.

29 ¿ Has visto un hombre diestro en su trabajo? Estará delante de los reyes; no estará delante de hombres sin importancia.

Do you see a man who is good at his work? He will stand in front of kings. He will not stand in front of men who are not important.