1 H ijo mío, guarda mis razones, Y atesora 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 a 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 a la sabiduría: Tú eres mi hermana, Y a la inteligencia llama tu 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 de palabras zalameras.

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

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

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

7 D istinguí entre los muchachos, A un joven 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 a la esquina donde ella vivía, 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, cuando ya oscurecía, En la oscuridad y tinieblas de la noche.

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

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

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

11 B ullanguera y revoltosa, Sus pies no pueden parar en casa;

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

12 U nas veces está en la calle, otras veces en las plazas, Acechando por todas las esquinas.

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

13 L e agarró, y le besó. Con semblante descarado le dijo:

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 a 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 H e adornado mi cama con colchas Recamadas 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 perfumado mi alcoba Con mirra, áloes y canela.

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

18 V en, embriaguémonos de amores hasta la mañana; Gocemos de las delicias del placer.

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

19 P orque mi marido no está en casa; Se ha ido a un largo viaje.

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

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

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

21 L o rindió con la suavidad de sus muchas palabras, Le obligó con la zalamería 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 A l punto se marchó tras ella, Como va el buey al degolladero, Y como el necio a 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 precipita hacia el lazo, Y no sabe que es contra vida, Hasta que la saeta traspasa su corazón.

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

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

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

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

27 C amino al Seol es su casa, Que conduce a 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.