1 O igan, hijos, la instrucción de un padre, Y presten atención para que ganen entendimiento,

Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, and interpretation.

2 P orque les doy buena enseñanza; No abandonen mi instrucción.

For I give you good doctrine; do not forsake my teaching.

3 C uando yo fui hijo para mi padre, Tierno y único a los ojos de mi madre,

When I was a son with my father, tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

4 E ntonces él me enseñaba y me decía: “Retenga tu corazón mis palabras, Guarda mis mandamientos y vivirás.

He taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live.

5 A dquiere sabiduría, adquiere inteligencia; No te olvides ni te apartes de las palabras de mi boca.

Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth.

6 N o la abandones y ella velará sobre ti; Amala y ella te protegerá.

Forsake not, and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you.

7 L o principal es la sabiduría; adquiere sabiduría, Y con todo lo que obtengas adquiere inteligencia.

The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).

8 E stímala, y ella te ensalzará; Ella te honrará si tú la abrazas;

Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.

9 G uirnalda de gracia pondrá en tu cabeza, Corona de hermosura te entregará.”

She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you.

10 O ye, hijo mío, recibe mis palabras, Y muchos serán los años de tu vida.

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.

11 P or el camino de la sabiduría te he conducido, Por sendas de rectitud te he guiado.

I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom; I have led you in paths of uprightness.

12 C uando andes, tus pasos no serán obstruidos, Y si corres, no tropezarás.

When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

13 A férrate a la instrucción, no la sueltes; Guárdala, porque ella es tu vida.

Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

14 N o entres en la senda de los impíos, Ni vayas por el camino de los malvados.

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15 E vítalo, no pases por él; Apártate de él y sigue adelante.

Avoid it, do not go on it; turn from it and pass on.

16 P orque ellos no duermen a menos que hagan lo malo, Y pierden el sueño si no han hecho caer a alguien.

For they cannot sleep unless they have caused trouble or vexation; their sleep is taken away unless they have caused someone to fall.

17 P orque comen pan de maldad, Y beben vino de violencia.

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

18 P ero la senda de los justos es como la luz de la aurora, Que va aumentando en resplandor hasta que es pleno día.

But the path of the just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until the perfect day.

19 E l camino de los impíos es como las tinieblas, No saben en qué tropiezan.

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

20 H ijo mío, presta atención a mis palabras; Inclina tu oído a mis razones.

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.

21 Q ue no se aparten de tus ojos; Guárdalas en medio de tu corazón.

Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.

22 P orque son vida para los que las hallan, Y salud para todo su cuerpo.

For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.

23 C on toda diligencia guarda tu corazón, Porque de él brotan los manantiales de la vida.

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

24 A parta de ti la boca perversa Y aleja de ti los labios falsos.

Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you.

25 M iren tus ojos hacia adelante, Y que tu mirada se fije en lo que está frente a ti.

Let your eyes look right on, and let your gaze be straight before you.

26 F íjate en el sendero de tus pies, Y todos tus caminos serán establecidos.

Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.

27 N o te desvíes a la derecha ni a la izquierda; Aparta tu pie del mal.

Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.