1 H IJO mío, está atento á mi sabiduría, Y á mi inteligencia inclina tu oído;

My son, listen to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding.

2 P ara que guardes consejo, Y tus labios conserven la ciencia.

So you may know what is good thinking, and your lips may keep much learning.

3 P orque los labios de la extraña destilan miel, Y su paladar es más blando que el aceite;

For the lips of a strange woman are as sweet as honey. Her talk is as smooth as oil.

4 M as su fin es amargo como el ajenjo, Agudo como cuchillo de dos filos.

But in the end she is as bitter tasting as wormwood, and as sharp as a sword that cuts both ways.

5 S us pies descienden á la muerte; Sus pasos sustentan el sepulcro:

Her feet go down to death. Her steps take hold of hell.

6 S us caminos son instables; no los conocerás, Si no considerares el camino de vida.

She does not think about the path of life. Her ways go this way and that, and she does not know it.

7 A hora pues, hijos, oidme, Y no os apartéis de las razones de mi boca.

Now then, my sons, listen to me. Do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

8 A leja de ella tu camino, Y no te acerques á la puerta de su casa;

Keep far away from her. Do not go near the door of her house.

9 P orque no des á los extraños tu honor, Y tus años á cruel;

If you do, you would give your strength to others, and your years to those without loving-kindness.

10 P orque no se harten los extraños de tu fuerza, Y tus trabajos estén en casa del extraño;

Strangers would be filled with your strength, and the fruits of your work would go to a strange house.

11 Y gimas en tus postrimerías, Cuando se consumiere tu carne y tu cuerpo,

You would cry inside yourself when your end comes, when your flesh and body are wasted away.

12 Y digas: ­Cómo aborrecí el consejo, Y mi corazón menospreció la reprensión;

You would say, “How I have hated teaching! My heart hated strong words!

13 Y no oí la voz de los que me adoctrinaban, Y á los que me enseñaban no incliné mi oído!

I have not listened to the voice of my teachers. I have not turned my ear to those who would teach me.

14 C asi en todo mal he estado, En medio de la sociedad y de la congregación.

Now I have a bad name in the meeting place of the people.”

15 B ebe el agua de tu cisterna, Y los raudales de tu pozo.

Drink water from your own pool, flowing water from your own well.

16 D errámense por de fuera tus fuentes, En las plazas los ríos de aguas.

Should the waters from your well flow away, rivers of water in the streets?

17 S ean para ti solo, Y no para los extraños contigo.

Let them be yours alone, and not for strangers with you.

18 S ea bendito tu manantial; Y alégrate con la mujer de tu mocedad.

Let your well be honored, and be happy with the wife you married when you were young.

19 C omo cierva amada y graciosa corza, Sus pechos te satisfagan en todo tiempo; Y en su amor recréate siempre.

Let her be like a loving, female deer. Let her breasts please you at all times. Be filled with great joy always because of her love.

20 ¿ Y por qué, hijo mío, andarás ciego con la ajena, Y abrazarás el seno de la extraña?

My son, why should you be carried away with a sinful woman and fall into the arms of a strange woman?

21 P ues que los caminos del hombre están ante los ojos de Jehová, Y él considera todas sus veredas.

For the ways of a man are seen by the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths.

22 P renderán al impío sus propias iniquidades, Y detenido será con las cuerdas de su pecado.

His own sins will trap the sinful. He will be held with the ropes of his sin.

23 E l morirá por falta de corrección; Y errará por la grandeza de su locura.

He will die for want of teaching, and will go the wrong way because of the greatness of his foolish ways.