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

HIJO mío, guarda mis razones, Y encierra contigo mis mandamientos.

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

Guarda mis mandamientos, y vivirás; Y mi ley como las niñas de tus ojos.

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

Lígalos á tus dedos; Escríbelos en la tabla de tu corazón.

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

Di á la sabiduría: Tú eres mi hermana; Y á la inteligencia llama parienta:

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

Para que te guarden de la mujer ajena, Y de la extraña que ablanda sus palabras.

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

Porque mirando yo por la ventana de mi casa, Por mi celosía,

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

Vi entre los simples, Consideré entre los jóvenes, Un mancebo falto de entendimiento,

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

El cual pasaba por la calle, junto á la esquina de aquella, E iba camino de su casa,

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

A la tarde del día, ya que oscurecía, En la oscuridad y tiniebla de la noche.

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.

Y he aquí, una mujer que le sale al encuentro Con atavío de ramera, astuta de corazón,

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

Alborotadora y rencillosa, Sus pies no pueden estar 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.

Unas veces de fuera, ó bien por las plazas, Acechando por todas las esquinas.

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

Y traba de él, y bésalo; Desvergonzó su rostro, y díjole:

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

Sacrificios de paz había prometido, Hoy he pagado mis votos;

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

Por tanto he salido á encontrarte, Buscando diligentemente tu rostro, y te he hallado.

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

Con paramentos he ataviado mi cama, Recamados con cordoncillo de Egipto.

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

He sahumado mi cámara Con mirra, áloes, y cinamomo.

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

Ven, embriaguémonos de amores hasta la mañana; Alegrémonos en amores.

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

Porque el marido no está en casa, Hase ido á un largo viaje:

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

El saco de dinero llevó en su mano; El día señalado volverá á su casa.

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

Rindiólo con la mucha suavidad de sus palabras, Obligóle con la blandura de sus labios.

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

Vase en pos de ella luego, Como va el buey al degolladero, Y como el loco á las prisiones para ser castigado;

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.

Como el ave que se apresura al lazo, Y no sabe que es contra su vida, Hasta que la saeta traspasó su hígado.

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

Ahora pues, hijos, oidme, Y estad atentos á las razones de mi boca.

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

No se aparte á sus caminos tu corazón; No yerres en sus veredas.

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

Porque á muchos ha hecho caer heridos; Y aun los más fuertes han sido muertos por ella.

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

Caminos del sepulcro son su casa, Que descienden á las cámaras de la muerte.