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

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

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

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

3 A talos 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 llama a la inteligencia tu mejor amiga,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 Y he aquí, una mujer le sale al encuentro, vestida como ramera y astuta 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 E s alborotadora y rebelde, sus pies no permanecen en casa;

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

12 e stá ya en las calles, ya en las plazas, y acecha 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 lo agarra y lo besa, y descarada le dice:

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

14 T enía que ofrecer ofrendas de paz, y hoy he cumplido 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 eso he salido a encontrarte, buscando tu rostro con ansiedad, y te he hallado.

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

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

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

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

I have perfumed my bed with fine perfumes and spices.

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

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

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 trip.

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 he will come home at full moon.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, my sons, listen to me. Listen 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 turn aside into her paths.

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

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

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

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