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

My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.

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

Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple 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 wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding 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 an adulteress, From the foreigner who flatters with 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 I saw among the naive, And discerned among the youths A young man lacking sense,

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

Passing through the street near her corner; And he takes 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, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.

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

And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.

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

She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home;

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

She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner.

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

So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him:

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

“ I was due to offer peace offerings; Today I have paid my vows.

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

“Therefore I have come out to meet you, To seek your presence earnestly, 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 coverings, With colored linens of Egypt.

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

“I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

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

“Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses.

19 P orque mi 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 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, At the full moon he will come home.”

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

With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him.

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 As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,

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.

Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, So he does not know that it will cost him his life.

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

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

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

Do not let your heart turn aside to 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 many are the victims she has cast down, And numerous are all her slain.

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

Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death.