1 H IJO mío, guarda mis razones, Y encierra contigo mis mandamientos.

My son, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments and treasure them.

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

Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law and teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye.

3 L ígalos á tus dedos; Escríbelos en la tabla de tu corazón.

Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 D i á la sabiduría: Tú eres mi hermana; Y á la inteligencia llama parienta:

Say to skillful and godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding or insight as your intimate friend—

5 P ara que te guarden de la mujer ajena, Y de la extraña que ablanda sus palabras.

That they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adventuress who flatters with and makes smooth her words.

6 P orque mirando yo por la ventana de mi casa, Por mi celosía,

For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice.

7 V i entre los simples, Consideré entre los jóvenes, Un mancebo falto de entendimiento,

And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense,

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

Sauntering through the street near the corner; and he went the way to her house

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

In the twilight, in the evening; night black and dense was falling.

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

And behold, there met him a woman, dressed as a harlot and sly and cunning of heart.

11 A lborotadora y rencillosa, Sus pies no pueden estar en casa;

She is turbulent and willful; her feet stay not in her house;

12 U nas veces de fuera, ó bien por las plazas, Acechando por todas las esquinas.

Now in the streets, now in the marketplaces, she sets her ambush at every corner.

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

So she caught him and kissed him and with impudent face she said to him,

14 S acrificios de paz había prometido, Hoy he pagado mis votos;

Sacrifices of peace offerings were due from me; this day I paid my vows.

15 P or tanto he salido á encontrarte, Buscando diligentemente tu rostro, y te he hallado.

So I came forth to meet you; diligently I sought your face, and I have found you.

16 C on paramentos he ataviado mi cama, Recamados con cordoncillo de Egipto.

I have spread my couch with rugs and cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of fine linen of Egypt.

17 H e sahumado mi cámara Con mirra, áloes, y cinamomo.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 V en, embriaguémonos de amores hasta la mañana; Alegrémonos en amores.

Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us console and delight ourselves with love.

19 P orque el marido no está en casa, Hase ido á un largo viaje:

For the man is not at home; he is gone on a long journey;

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

He has taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed.

21 R indiólo con la mucha suavidad de sus palabras, Obligóle con la blandura de sus labios.

With much justifying and enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him and forces him along.

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

Suddenly he follows her reluctantly like an ox moving to the slaughter, like one in fetters going to the correction to a fool or like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle

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

Till a dart pierces and inflames his vitals; then like a bird fluttering straight into the net, not knowing that it will cost him his life.

24 A hora pues, hijos, oidme, Y estad atentos á las razones de mi boca.

Listen to me now therefore, O you sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

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

Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths.

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

For she has cast down many wounded; indeed, all her slain are a mighty host.

27 C aminos del sepulcro son su casa, Que descienden á las cámaras de la muerte.

Her house is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death.