1 H ijo mío, guarda mis razones, Y atesora contigo mis mandamientos.

My son, keep my words, and hold together my teachings within you.

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

Keep my words and live. Keep my teachings as you would your own eye.

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

Tie them upon your fingers. Write them upon your heart.

4 D i a la sabiduría: Tú eres mi hermana, Y a la inteligencia llama tu parienta;

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your special friend.

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

They will keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger with her smooth words.

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

For I looked out through the wood-work at the window of my house.

7 D istinguí entre los muchachos, A un joven falto de entendimiento,

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

8 E l cual pasaba por la calle, junto a la esquina donde ella vivía, E iba camino de su casa,

He passed through the street near her corner and took the path to her house,

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

in the light of the evening, after it was dark.

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

See, 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.

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

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

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

She is now in the street, now in the center of town where people gather. She lies in wait at every corner.

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

So she catches him and kisses him. With a hard face she says to him,

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

“It was time for me to give gifts on the altar in worship, and today I have paid what I promised.

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

So I have come out to meet you, to look for you, and I have found you.

16 H e adornado mi cama con colchas Recamadas con cordoncillo de Egipto;

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

17 H e perfumado mi alcoba Con mirra, áloes y canela.

I have perfumed my bed with fine perfumes and spices.

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 make ourselves happy with love.

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

For my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long trip.

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 he will come home at full moon.”

21 L o rindió con la suavidad de sus muchas palabras, Le obligó con la zalamería de sus labios.

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

22 A l punto se marchó tras ella, Como va el buey al degolladero, Y como el necio a las prisiones para ser castigado;

All at once he follows her, like a bull going to be killed, like a wild animal goes into a trap,

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.

until an arrow cuts through him. Like a bird that hurries into the net, he does not know that he will lose his life.

24 A hora pues, hijos, oídme, Y estad atentos a las razones de mi boca.

So, my sons, listen to me. Listen to the words of my mouth.

25 N o se aparte tu corazón hacia sus caminos; No te extravíes por sus veredas.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not turn aside 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 hurt many and destroyed many others. She has killed a great number.

27 C amino al Seol es su casa, Que conduce a las cámaras de la muerte.

Her house is the way to hell, going down to the rooms of death.