1 W iilkaygiiyow, xigmaddayda dhegayso, Oo waxgarashadaydana dhegta u dhig;

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

2 S i aad digtoonaan u dhawrtid, Oo ay bushimahaaguna aqoon u xejiyaan.

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

3 W aayo, naagta qalaad bushimaheedu waxay daadiyaan malab, Oo afkeeduna saliid buu ka sii macaan yahay,

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

4 L aakiinse aakhirkeedu wuxuu u qadhaadh yahay sida geed dacareed oo kale, Wuuna af badan yahay sida seef laba af leh.

But in the end she is as bitter tasting as wormwood, and as sharp as a sword that cuts both ways.

5 C agaheedu dhimashay ku dhaadhacaan, Oo tallaabooyinkeeduna waxay u jeedaan xagga She'ool,

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

6 W addada nolosha iyadu aad uguma fiirsato. Jidadkeedu waa leexleexdaan, oo garan kari maysid,

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

7 H addaba sidaas daraaddeed, wiilashoy, bal i maqla, Oo erayada afkayga ha ka tegina.

Now then, my sons, listen to me. Do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

8 J idkaaga ka fogee iyada, Oo albaabka gurigeeda ha u dhowaan,

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

9 S i aanad sharaftaada kuwa kale u siin, Oo aanad sannadahaaga kuwa caloosha adag u siin,

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

10 S i aan shisheeyayaal maalkaaga uga dhergin; Oo aanay wixii aad u hawshootay guri ajnabi u gelin,

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

11 S i aanad ugu dambaysta u barooran, Markay hilibkaaga iyo jidhkaaguba baabba'aan,

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

12 O o aad tidhaahdaan, Sidee baan edbin u nebcaaday, Oo qalbigayguna canaantii u quudhsaday!

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

13 C odkii macallimiintaydii ma aan addeecin, Oo dhegtana uma aan dhigin kuwii wax i baray!

I have not listened to the voice of my teachers. I have not turned my ear to those who would teach me.

14 A nigu waxaan u dhowaa inaan shar kasta falo Anigoo ku dhex jira shirka iyo ururka.

Now I have a bad name in the meeting place of the people.”

15 B erkeddaada biyo ka cab, Oo ceelkaagana biyo qulqulaya ka cab.

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

16 M a hagaag baa in ilahaagu dibadda u daataan. Oo ay durdurraduna dariiqyada maraan?

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

17 I yagu ha ahaadeen kuwaaga oo keliya, Oo yaanay u ahaan shisheeyayaal adiga kula jira.

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

18 I shaadu ha barakaysnaato, Oo naagtaadii aad yaraanta ku guursatay ku faraxsanow.

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

19 I yadu ha kuu ahaato sida deerada jacaylka badan iyo sida cawsha quruxsan, Goor walbana naasaheedu ha ku deeqeen Oo had iyo goorna jacaylkeeda ku faraxsanow.

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 H addaba wiilkaygiiyow, bal maxaad naag qalaad ugu faraxsanaanaysaa, Maxaadse naag shisheeye ah naasaheeda u qabsanaysaa?

My son, why should you be carried away with a sinful woman and fall into the arms of a strange woman?

21 W aayo, jidadka dadku waxay hor yaalliin indhaha Rabbiga Oo isagaa fiiriya waddooyinkiisa oo dhan.

For the ways of a man are seen by the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths.

22 K an sharka leh waxaa qabsan doonta xumaantiisa, Oo waxaa isaga lagu soo xidhi doonaa xadhkaha dembigiisa.

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

23 W uxuu u dhiman doonaa edbinla'aanta, Oo isagu wuxuu ku dhex amban doonaa badnaanta nacasnimadiisa.

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