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

Hijo mío, guarda mis razones, Y atesora 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 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 a la inteligencia llama tu 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 de palabras zalameras.

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

Porque estaba yo a la ventana de mi casa, Mirando por la reja; Vi entre los simples,

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

Distinguí entre los muchachos, A un joven 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 a la esquina donde ella vivía, E iba camino de su casa,

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

A la tarde del día, cuando ya oscurecía, En la oscuridad y tinieblas 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.

Cuando he aquí, una mujer le sale al encuentro, Con atavío de ramera y disimulo en el corazón.

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

Bullanguera y revoltosa, Sus pies no pueden parar 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 está en la calle, otras veces en las plazas, Acechando por todas las esquinas.

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

Le agarró, y le besó. Con semblante descarado le dijo:

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 a encontrarte, Buscando diligentemente tu rostro, y te he hallado.

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

He adornado mi cama con colchas Recamadas con cordoncillo de Egipto;

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

He perfumado mi alcoba 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 amores hasta la mañana; Gocemos de las delicias del placer.

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 llevó la bolsa de dinero; Y hasta la luna llena no volverá a casa.

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

Lo rindió con la suavidad de sus muchas palabras, Le obligó con la zalamería 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,

Al punto se marchó tras ella, Como va el buey al degolladero, Y como el necio a 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 precipita hacia el lazo, Y no sabe que es contra vida, Hasta que la saeta traspasa su corazón.

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

Ahora pues, hijos, oídme, Y estad atentos a 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 tu corazón hacia sus caminos; No te extravíes por sus veredas.

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

Porque a muchos ha hecho caer heridos, Y aun los más robustos han sido muertos por ella.

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

Camino al Seol es su casa, Que conduce a las cámaras de la muerte.