1 M y son, keep my words, and hold together my teachings within you.

Hijo mío, guarda mis palabras Y atesora mis mandamientos contigo.

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

Guarda mis mandamientos y vivirás, Y mi enseñanza como la niña de tus ojos.

3 T ie them upon your fingers. Write them upon your heart.

Atalos a tus dedos, Escríbelos en la tabla de tu corazón.

4 S ay to wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your special friend.

Di a la sabiduría: “Tú eres mi hermana,” Y llama a la inteligencia tu mejor amiga,

5 T hey will keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger with her smooth words.

Para que te guarden de la mujer extraña, De la desconocida que lisonjea con sus palabras.

6 F or I looked out through the wood-work at the window of my house.

Porque desde la ventana de mi casa Miraba por la celosía,

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

Y vi entre los simples, Distinguí entre los muchachos A un joven falto de juicio,

8 H e passed through the street near her corner and took the path to her house,

Pasando por la calle, cerca de su esquina; Iba camino de su casa,

9 i n the light of the evening, after it was dark.

Al atardecer, al anochecer, En medio de la noche y la oscuridad.

10 S ee, 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.

Entonces una mujer le sale al encuentro, Vestida como ramera y astuta de corazón.

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

Es alborotadora y rebelde, Sus pies no permanecen en casa;

12 S he is now in the street, now in the center of town where people gather. She lies in wait at every corner.

Está ya en las calles, ya en las plazas, Y acecha por todas las esquinas.

13 S o she catches him and kisses him. With a hard face she says to him,

Así que ella lo agarra y lo besa, Y descarada le dice:

14 “ It was time for me to give gifts on the altar in worship, and today I have paid what I promised.

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

15 S o I have come out to meet you, to look for you, and I have found you.

Por eso he salido a encontrarte, Buscando tu rostro con ansiedad, y te he hallado.

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

He tendido mi lecho con colchas, Con linos de Egipto en colores.

17 I have perfumed my bed with fine perfumes and spices.

He rociado mi cama Con mirra, áloes y canela.

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

Ven, embriaguémonos de amor hasta la mañana, Deleitémonos con caricias.

19 F or my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long trip.

Porque mi marido no está en casa, Se ha ido a un largo viaje;

20 H e has taken a bag of money with him, and he will come home at full moon.”

Se ha llevado en la mano la bolsa del dinero, Volverá a casa para la luna llena.”

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

Con sus palabras persuasivas lo atrae, Lo seduce con sus labios lisonjeros.

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

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

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

Hasta 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.

24 S o, my sons, listen to me. Listen to the words of my mouth.

Ahora pues, hijos míos, escúchenme, Y presten atención a las palabras de mi boca.

25 D o not let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not turn aside into her paths.

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

26 F or she has hurt many and destroyed many others. She has killed a great number.

Porque muchas son las víctimas derribadas por ella, Y numerosos los que ha matado.

27 H er house is the way to hell, going down to the rooms of death.

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