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

My son, keep my words. Lay up 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! Guard 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,

Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative,

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 strange woman, 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,

I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,

8 P asando por la calle, cerca de su esquina; Iba camino de su casa,

passing through the street near her corner, 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 of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.

10 E ntonces una mujer le sale al encuentro, Vestida como ramera y astuta de corazón.

Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.

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

She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house.

12 E stá ya en las calles, ya en las plazas, Y acecha por todas las esquinas.

Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.

13 A sí que ella lo agarra y lo besa, Y descarada le dice:

So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:

14 “ Tenía que ofrecer ofrendas de paz, Y hoy he cumplido mis votos;

“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. 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 came out to meet you, to diligently seek 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 carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn 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’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.

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

For my husband isn’t 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. He will come home at the full moon.”

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

With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.

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

He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.

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 strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.

24 A hora pues, hijos míos, escúchenme, Y presten atención a las palabras de mi boca.

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

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

Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,

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

for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.

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

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