1 M y son, if you have put yourself as a trust for what your neighbor owes to another, or if you have made a promise for a stranger,

»Hijo mío, si has salido fiador por tu amigo o le has empeñado tu palabra a un extraño,

2 y ou have been trapped with the words of your lips. You have been caught with the words of your mouth.

te has enredado con las palabras de tu boca y has quedado atrapado en los dichos de tus labios.

3 D o this now, my son, and get yourself out of trouble, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go without pride and beg your neighbor to let you go.

Haz esto ahora, hijo mío, para librarte, ya que has caído en manos de tu prójimo: Ve, humíllate, importuna a tu amigo,

4 D o not let your eyes sleep. Do not let your eyes close.

no des sueño a tus ojos ni dejes que tus párpados se cierren;

5 T ake yourself away like a deer from the man who kills animals, and like a bird from the hand of the man who catches birds.

escápate como una gacela de manos del cazador, como un ave, de manos del que tiende trampas.

6 G o to the ant, O lazy person. Watch and think about her ways, and be wise.

»Mira la hormiga, perezoso, observa sus caminos y sé sabio:

7 S he has no leader, head or ruler,

Ella, sin tener capitán, gobernador ni señor,

8 b ut she gets her food ready in the summer, and gathers her food at the right time.

prepara en el verano su comida, recoge en el tiempo de la siega su sustento.

9 H ow long will you lie down, O lazy person? When will you rise up from your sleep?

Perezoso, ¿hasta cuándo has de dormir? ¿Cuándo te levantarás del sueño?

10 A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands to rest,

Un poco de sueño, dormitar otro poco, y otro poco descansar mano sobre mano:

11 a nd being poor will come upon you like a robber, and your need like a man ready to fight.

así te llegará la miseria como un vagabundo, la pobreza como un hombre armado.

12 A person of no worth, a sinful man, is he who goes about telling lies.

»El hombre malo, el hombre depravado, es el que anda en perversidad de boca;

13 H e winks with his eyes, makes signs with his feet, and makes certain moves with his fingers.

que guiña los ojos, que habla con los pies, que hace señas con los dedos.

14 H e always plans to do sinful things because of his sinful heart. He causes arguing among people.

Perversidades hay en su corazón; anda pensando el mal en todo tiempo; siembra las discordias.

15 S o trouble will come upon him all at once. Right then he will be broken, and there will be no healing.

Por tanto, su calamidad vendrá de repente; súbitamente será quebrantado, y no habrá remedio.

16 T here are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven that are hated by Him:

»Seis cosas aborrece Jehová, y aun siete le son abominables:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who are without guilt,

los ojos altivos, la lengua mentirosa, las manos que derraman sangre inocente,

18 a heart that makes sinful plans, feet that run fast to sin,

el corazón que maquina pensamientos inicuos, los pies que corren presurosos al mal,

19 a person who tells lies about someone else, and one who starts fights among brothers.

el testigo falso, que dice mentiras, y el que siembra discordia entre hermanos. Amonestación contra el adulterio

20 M y son, keep the teaching of your father, and do not turn away from the teaching of your mother.

»Guarda, hijo mío, el mandamiento de tu padre y no abandones la enseñanza de tu madre.

21 H old them always to your heart. Tie them around your neck.

Átalos siempre a tu corazón, enlázalos a tu cuello.

22 T hey will lead you when you walk. They will watch over you when you sleep, and they will talk with you when you wake up.

Te guiarán cuando camines, te guardarán cuando duermas y hablarán contigo cuando despiertes.

23 F or the word is a lamp. The teaching is a light, and strong words that punish are the way of life.

Porque el mandamiento es lámpara, la enseñanza es luz, y camino de vida son las reprensiones que te instruyen

24 T hey keep you from the sinful woman, from the smooth tongue of a sinful woman.

para guardarte de la mala mujer, de la suave lengua de la mujer extraña.

25 D o not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyes.

No codicies su hermosura en tu corazón, ni te prenda ella con sus ojos,

26 F or because of a woman who sells the use of her body, one is brought down to a loaf of bread. A sinful woman hunts to take a man’s very life.

porque la ramera pretende del hombre sólo un bocado de pan, pero la adúltera busca la vida del hombre.

27 C an a man carry fire in his arms, and his clothes not be burned?

¿Pondrá el hombre fuego en su seno sin que ardan sus vestidos?

28 C an a man walk on hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

¿Andará el hombre sobre brasas sin que se quemen sus pies?

29 S o is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will be punished.

Así le sucede al que se llega a la mujer de su prójimo, pues no quedará impune ninguno que la toque.

30 M en do not hate a robber who steals food for himself when he is hungry.

¿No se desprecia al ladrón, aunque sólo robe por comer cuando tiene hambre?

31 B ut if he is caught, he must pay seven times what he took. He must give up all the things in his house.

Y si es sorprendido, pagará siete veces: tendrá que entregar cuanto tiene en su casa.

32 H e who does sex sins with a woman does not think well. He who does it is destroying himself.

También al que comete adulterio le falta sensatez; el que tal hace corrompe su alma.

33 H e will be hurt and ashamed, and his shame will not be taken away.

Heridas y vergüenza hallará, y su afrenta nunca será borrada.

34 J ealousy makes a man angry. He will show no pity for the wrong that was done to him.

Porque el hombre enfurecido por los celos no perdonará en el día de la venganza;

35 H e will not take pay, and he will not be happy even if you give him many gifts.

no aceptará compensación alguna, ni querrá perdonar aunque le aumentes el pago.