1 » Hijo mío, guarda mis razones y atesora para ti mis mandamientos.

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

2 G uarda mis mandamientos y vivirás, y guarda mi enseñanza como a la niña de tus ojos.

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

3 Á talos 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 llama parienta a la inteligencia,

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

5 p ara que te guarden de la mujer ajena, de la extraña que suaviza sus palabras.

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

6 » Miraba yo por la ventana de mi casa, a través de mi celosía,

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

7 c uando vi entre los ingenuos, observé entre los jóvenes, a un joven falto de sensatez.

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

8 P asaba él por la calle, junto a la esquina, e iba camino de la casa de ella,

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

9 a l atardecer, cuando ya oscurecía y caía la oscuridad y las tinieblas de la noche.

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

10 » En esto, una mujer le sale al encuentro, con atavío de ramera y astucia 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 A lborotadora y pendenciera, sus pies no pueden estar 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, al acecho en 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 S e asió de él y lo besó. Con semblante descarado le dijo:

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

14 “ Sacrificios de paz había prometido, y hoy he cumplido 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 eso he salido a encontrarte, buscando con ansia 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 lino de Egipto;

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

17 h e perfumado mi lecho con mirra, áloes y canela.

I have perfumed my bed with fine perfumes and spices.

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

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 L a bolsa del dinero se llevó en la mano, y no volverá a su casa hasta la luna llena.”

He has taken a bag of money with him, and he will come home at full moon.”

21 » Así lo rindió, con la suavidad de sus muchas palabras, y lo sedujo 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 o como va el necio a prisión 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 arroja contra la red, sin saber que va a perder la 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 » Ahora pues, hijos, escuchadme; 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 desvíe tu corazón a los caminos de ella; no yerres en 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 fuertes han sido muertos por ella.

For she has hurt many and destroyed many others. She has killed a great number.

27 C amino del 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.