1 H ijo mío, si recibes mis palabras Y atesoras mis mandamientos dentro de ti,

My son, if you receive my sayings and store up my teachings within you,

2 D a oído a la sabiduría, Inclina tu corazón al entendimiento.

make your ear open to wisdom. Turn your heart to understanding.

3 P orque si clamas a la inteligencia, Alza tu voz por entendimiento;

If you cry out to know right from wrong, and lift your voice for understanding;

4 S i la buscas como a la plata, Y la procuras como a tesoros escondidos,

if you look for her as silver, and look for her as hidden riches;

5 E ntonces entenderás el temor del Señor Y descubrirás el conocimiento de Dios.

then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find what is known of God.

6 P orque el Señor da sabiduría, De Su boca vienen el conocimiento y la inteligencia.

For the Lord gives wisdom. Much learning and understanding come from His mouth.

7 E l reserva la prosperidad para los rectos Y es escudo para los que andan en integridad,

He stores up perfect wisdom for those who are right with Him. He is a safe-covering to those who are right in their walk.

8 G uarda las sendas del juicio, Y preserva el camino de Sus santos.

He watches over the right way, and He keeps safe the way of those who belong to Him.

9 E ntonces discernirás justicia y juicio, Equidad y todo buen sendero.

Then you will understand what is right and good, and right from wrong, and you will know what you should do.

10 P orque la sabiduría entrará en tu corazón, Y el conocimiento será grato a tu alma;

For wisdom will come into your heart. And much learning will be pleasing to your soul.

11 L a discreción velará sobre ti, El entendimiento te protegerá,

Good thinking will keep you safe. Understanding will watch over you.

12 P ara librarte de la senda del mal, Del hombre que habla cosas perversas;

You will be kept from the sinful man, and from the man who causes much trouble by what he says.

13 D e los que dejan las sendas de rectitud, Para andar por los caminos tenebrosos;

You will be kept from the man who leaves the right way to walk in the ways of darkness,

14 D e los que se deleitan en hacer el mal Y se regocijan en las perversidades del mal;

from the one who is happy doing wrong, and who finds joy in the way of sin.

15 C uyas sendas son torcidas, Y se extravían en sus senderos.

His ways are not straight and are not good.

16 L a discreción te librará de la mujer extraña, De la desconocida que lisonjea con sus palabras,

You will be saved from the strange woman, from the sinful woman with her smooth words.

17 L a cual deja al compañero de su juventud, Y olvida el pacto de su Dios;

She leaves the husband she had when she was young, and forgets the agreement with her God.

18 P orque su casa se inclina hacia la muerte, Y sus senderos hacia los muertos.

For her house goes down to death, and her steps lead to the dead.

19 T odos los que van a ella, no vuelven, Ni alcanzan las sendas de la vida.

None who go to her return again, and they do not find the paths of life.

20 P or tanto andarás, en el camino de los buenos Y guardarás las sendas de los justos.

So may you walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of those who are right and good.

21 P orque los rectos morarán en la tierra, Y los íntegros permanecerán en ella;

For those who are right with God will live in the land. The men without blame will stay in it,

22 P ero los impíos serán cortados de la tierra, Y los malvados serán desarraigados de ella.

but the sinful will be destroyed from the land, and those who are not faithful will be taken away from it.