1 » Hijo mío, está atento a mi sabiduría e inclina tu oído a mi inteligencia,

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

2 p ara que guardes discreción y tus labios conserven la ciencia.

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

3 L os labios de la mujer extraña destilan miel y su paladar es más suave que el aceite,

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

4 p ero su final es amargo como el ajenjo, agudo como espada 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 a la muerte, sus pasos se dirigen al seol.

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

6 S us caminos no son firmes: no los conoce, ni considera el camino de la vida.

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

7 » Ahora pues, hijos, escuchadme 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 a la puerta de su casa,

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

9 n o sea que des tu honor a extraños, y tus años a alguien cruel;

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

10 o no sea que los extraños se sacien de tu fuerza, que tus trabajos queden en casa ajena

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

11 y que gimas al final, cuando se consuma tu carne y todo tu cuerpo,

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

12 y digas: “¡Cómo pude aborrecer el consejo? ¡Cómo pudo mi corazón menospreciar la reprensión?

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

13 ¡ No escuché la voz de los que me instruían, ni a los que me enseñaban 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 el colmo del 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 » Bebe el agua de tu propia cisterna, los raudales de tu propio pozo.

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

16 ¿ Acaso han de derramarse tus fuentes por las calles y tus corrientes de aguas por las plazas?

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

17 S ean ellas para ti solo, no para los extraños que estén contigo.

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

18 ¡ Sea bendito tu manantial y alégrate con la mujer de tu juventud,

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

19 c ierva amada, graciosa gacela! Que sus caricias te satisfagan en todo tiempo y recréate siempre en su amor.

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 ¿ Por qué, hijo mío, has de andar ciego con la mujer ajena y abrazar 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 L os 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 A presarán al malvado sus propias iniquidades, retenido será con las ligaduras de su pecado.

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

23 É l morirá por falta de disciplina y errará por lo inmenso de su locura.

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