1 L a sabiduría ha edificado su casa; la ha afirmado con siete columnas labradas,

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

2 h a sacrificado los animales para el banquete, ha mezclado el vino y preparado la mesa.

She has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

3 A hora llama desde lo alto de la ciudad, luego de haber enviado a sus criadas.

She has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town:

4 I nvita a los ingenuos a acercarse; les dice a los faltos de cordura:

Whoever is simple (easily led astray and wavering), let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, Wisdom says to him,

5 « ¡Vengan y coman de mi pan! ¡Beban del vino que he mezclado!

Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mixed.

6 ¡ Déjense de tonterías, y vivan! ¡Sigan el camino de la inteligencia!

Leave off, simple ones and live! And walk in the way of insight and understanding.

7 » Corrige al blasfemo y recibirás afrentas; reprende al impío y te ganarás insultos.

He who rebukes a scorner heaps upon himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man gets for himself bruises.

8 N o reprendas al blasfemo, y no te aborrecerá; corrige al sabio, y te amará.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9 D ale al sabio, y se hará más sabio; enseña al justo, y aumentará su saber.

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning.

10 E l principio de la sabiduría es el temor del Señor; el conocimiento de lo santo es inteligencia.

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.

11 Y o haré que vivas mucho tiempo; ¡te daré muchos años de vida!

For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

12 S i te haces sabio, el provecho es tuyo; si te vuelves blasfemo, sufrirás las consecuencias.»

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scorn, you alone will bear it and pay the penalty.

13 L a mujer insensata es provocativa; es insulsa e ignorante.

The foolish woman is noisy; she is simple and open to all forms of evil, she knows nothing whatever.

14 S e entroniza a la puerta de su casa, o en los lugares más altos de la ciudad,

For she sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the conspicuous places of the town,

15 y llama a los que pasan por ahí, a los que van por el camino recto.

Calling to those who pass by, who go uprightly on their way:

16 I nvita a los ingenuos a acercarse, y les dice a los faltos de cordura:

Whoever is simple (wavering and easily led astray), let him turn in here! And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

17 « ¡Qué dulce es el agua robada! ¡Qué sabroso es el pan comido a escondidas!»

Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

18 Y ellos no saben que sus invitados terminan muertos en el fondo del sepulcro.

But he knows not that the shades of the dead are there, and that her invited guests are in the depths of Sheol (the lower world, Hades, the place of the dead).