1 H ijo mío, guarda mis palabras, y atesora mis mandamientos contigo.

My son, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments and treasure them.

2 G uarda mis mandamientos y vivirás, y mi enseñanza como la niña de tus ojos.

Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law and teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye.

3 A talos a tus dedos, escríbelos en la tabla de tu corazón.

Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 D i a la sabiduría: Tú eres mi hermana, y llama a la inteligencia tu mejor amiga,

Say to skillful and godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding or insight as your intimate friend—

5 p ara que te guarden de la mujer extraña, de la desconocida que lisonjea con sus palabras.

That they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adventuress who flatters with and makes smooth her words.

6 P orque desde la ventana de mi casa miraba por la celosía,

For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice.

7 y vi entre los simples, distinguí entre los muchachos a un joven falto de juicio,

And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense,

8 p asando por la calle cerca de su esquina; iba camino de su casa,

Sauntering through the street near the corner; and he went the way to her house

9 a l atardecer, al anochecer, en medio de la noche y la oscuridad.

In the twilight, in the evening; night black and dense was falling.

10 Y he aquí, una mujer le sale al encuentro, vestida como ramera y astuta de corazón.

And behold, there met him a woman, dressed as a harlot and sly and cunning of heart.

11 E s alborotadora y rebelde, sus pies no permanecen en casa;

She is turbulent and willful; her feet stay not in her house;

12 e stá ya en las calles, ya en las plazas, y acecha por todas las esquinas.

Now in the streets, now in the marketplaces, she sets her ambush at every corner.

13 Y lo agarra y lo besa, y descarada le dice:

So she caught him and kissed him and with impudent face she said to him,

14 T enía que ofrecer ofrendas de paz, y hoy he cumplido mis votos;

Sacrifices of peace offerings were due from me; this day I paid my vows.

15 p or eso he salido a encontrarte, buscando tu rostro con ansiedad, y te he hallado.

So I came forth to meet you; diligently I sought your face, and I have found you.

16 H e tendido mi lecho con colchas, con linos de Egipto en colores;

I have spread my couch with rugs and cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of fine linen of Egypt.

17 h e rociado mi cama con mirra, áloes y canela.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 V en, embriaguémonos de amor hasta la mañana, deleitémonos con caricias.

Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us console and delight ourselves with love.

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

For the man is not at home; he is gone on a long journey;

20 s e ha llevado en la mano la bolsa del dinero, volverá a casa para la luna llena.

He has taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed.

21 C on sus palabras persuasivas lo atrae, lo seduce con sus labios lisonjeros.

With much justifying and enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him and forces him along.

22 A l instante la sigue, como va el buey al matadero, o como uno en grillos al castigo de un necio,

Suddenly he follows her reluctantly like an ox moving to the slaughter, like one in fetters going to the correction to a fool or like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle

23 h asta que una flecha le traspasa el hígado; como el ave que se precipita en la trampa, y no sabe que esto le costará la vida.

Till a dart pierces and inflames his vitals; then like a bird fluttering straight into the net, not knowing that it will cost him his life.

24 A hora pues, hijos míos, escuchadme, y prestad atención a las palabras de mi boca.

Listen to me now therefore, O you sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

25 N o se desvíe tu corazón hacia sus caminos, no te extravíes en sus sendas.

Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths.

26 P orque muchas son las víctimas derribadas por ella, y numerosos los que ha matado.

For she has cast down many wounded; indeed, all her slain are a mighty host.

27 S u casa es el camino al Seol, que desciende a las cámaras de la muerte.

Her house is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death.