1 W iilkaygiiyow, erayadayda xaji, Oo amarradaydana xaggaaga ku kaydso.

My son, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments and treasure them.

2 A marradayda xaji aad noolaatide, Oo sharcigaygana sida ishaada inankeeda u dhawr.

Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law and teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye.

3 F arahaaga ku xidho, Oo looxa qalbigaagana ku qoro.

Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 W axaad xigmadda ku tidhaahdaa, Adigu waxaad tahay walaashay, Oo waxgarashadana waxaad ugu yeedhaa, saaxiibadday gacalisoy,

Say to skillful and godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding or insight as your intimate friend—

5 S i ay iyagu kaaga celiyaan naagta qalaad, Taasoo erayadeeda kugu sasabata.

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

6 W aayo, anigoo jooga daaqadda gurigayga Ayaan shabagga daaqadda wax ka fiiriyey,

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

7 O o kuwa garaadka daran ayaan fiiriyey, oo waxaan barbaarrada ku dhex arkay Nin dhallinyaraa oo aan innaba waxgarasho lahayn,

And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense,

8 I sagoo maraya dariiqa xaafaddeeda u dhow, Oo wuxuu raacay jidkii gurigeeda,

Sauntering through the street near the corner; and he went the way to her house

9 O o waxay ahayd gabbaldhac oo makhribka ah, markii habeenkii madoobaanayay oo gudcur noqonayay.

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

10 O o bal eeg, waxaa isagii ka hor timid naag Sidii dhillo u lebbisan, oo qalbigeedu khiyaano miidhan yahay.

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

11 I yadu waa rabshad badan tahay, waana caasiyad, Oo gurigeeda cag sooma dhigto.

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

12 M ar dibadday joogtaa, marna dariiqyaday maraysaa, Oo rukun kasta wax bay ku sugtaa.

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

13 H addaba isagii way qabsatay, oo dhunkatay; Iyadoo aan wejigeedu xishood lahayn ayay waxay isagii ku tidhi,

So she caught him and kissed him and with impudent face she said to him,

14 A nigu waxaan hayaa allabaryo nabdeed, Oo maanta ayaan nidarradaydii bixiyey.

Sacrifices of peace offerings were due from me; this day I paid my vows.

15 H addaba waxaan u soo baxay inaan kula kulmo, Oo aan aad iyo aad wejigaaga u doondoono, waanan ku helay.

So I came forth to meet you; diligently I sought your face, and I have found you.

16 S ariirtaydii waxaan ku goglay durraaxado daabac leh, Iyo marooyin duntii Masar laga sameeyey.

I have spread my couch with rugs and cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of fine linen of Egypt.

17 W axaan sariirtaydii ku cadariyey Malmal iyo cuud iyo qorfe.

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

18 K aalay, oo aan caashaq ka dheregno ilaa aroorta, Oo aynu jacayl ku faraxsanaanno.

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

19 W aayo, ninkaygii guriga ma joogo, Oo meel fog buu u sodcaalay,

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

20 K iish lacag ahna wuu qaatay, Oo wuxuu guriga ku soo noqon doonaa markuu dayaxu caddaado.

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

21 H adalkeedii badnaa oo macaanaa ayay isagii isku yeelsiisay, Oo waxay isagii ku qasabtay faankii beenta ahaa oo bushimeheeda.

With much justifying and enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him and forces him along.

22 O o haddiiba iyadii buu daba galay, Sidii dibi loo wado in la gowraco, Ama sidii nacas loo wado in silsilado lagu jebiyo,

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 J eer fallaadh beerka lagaga wareemo, Sida shimbiru dabinka degdeg ku gasho, Iyadoo aan ogayn in loo dhigay si nafteeda loo qaado.

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 H addaba sidaas daraaddeed, wiilashoy, bal i maqla, Oo erayada afkayga dhegaysta.

Listen to me now therefore, O you sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

25 Q albigiinnu yaanu jidadkeeda u leexan, Oo waddooyinkeedana ha ku dhex habaabina.

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

26 W aayo, iyadu waxay ridday kuwa badan oo dhaawacan, Sida xaqiiqada kuway laysay aad bay u badan yihiin.

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

27 G urigeedu waa jidkii She'ool, Oo wuxuu hoos ugu dhaadhacaa dhimashada qolladaheeda.

Her house is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death.