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¶ Hijo mío, guarda mis razones, y encierra contigo mis mandamientos.

Guarda mis mandamientos, y vivirás; y mi ley como las niñas de tus ojos.

Lígalos a tus dedos; escríbelos en la tabla de tu corazón.

Di a la sabiduría: Tú eres mi hermana; y a la inteligencia llama parienta,

para que te guarden de la mujer ajena, y de la extraña que ablanda sus palabras.

¶ Porque mirando yo por la ventana de mi casa, por mi celosía,

vi entre los simples, consideré entre los jóvenes, un joven falto de entendimiento,

el cual pasaba por la calle, junto a la esquina de aquella, e iba camino de su casa;

a la tarde del día, ya que oscurecía; en la oscuridad y tiniebla de la noche.

10 Y he aquí, una mujer que le sale al encuentro con atavío de ramera, guardada de corazón,

11 alborotadora y rencillosa, sus pies no pueden estar en casa;

12 unas veces de fuera, o bien por las plazas, acechando por todas las esquinas.

13 Y traba de él, y lo besa; desvergonzó su rostro, y le dijo:

14 Sacrificios de paz había prometido, hoy he pagado mis votos;

15 por tanto he salido a encontrarte, buscando tu rostro, y te he hallado.

16 Con paramentos he ataviado mi cama, recamados con cordoncillo de Egipto.

17 He sahumado mi cámara con mirra, áloes, y canela.

18 Ven, embriaguémonos de amores hasta la mañana; alegrémonos en amores.

19 Porque el marido no está en casa, se ha ido a un largo viaje;

20 el saco de dinero llevó en su mano, el día de la fiesta volverá a su casa.

21 Lo derribó con la mucha suavidad de sus palabras, con la blandura de sus labios le persuadió.

22 Se va en pos de ella luego, como va el buey al degolladero, y como el loco a las prisiones para ser castigado;

23 de tal manera que la saeta traspasó su hígado; como el ave que se apresura al lazo, y no sabe que es contra su vida.

24 ¶ Ahora pues, hijos, oídme, y estad atentos a las razones de mi boca.

25 No se aparte a sus caminos tu corazón; no yerres en sus veredas.

26 Porque a muchos ha hecho caer muertos; y todos los fuertes han sido muertos por ella.

27 Caminos del Seol son su casa, que descienden a las cámaras de la muerte.

Invitación de la mujer infiel

Querido jovencito,
ten presente lo que te digo
y obedece mis mandamientos.
2-3 Cúmplelos, y vivirás;
grábalos en tu mente,
nunca te olvides de ellos.
Cuida mis enseñanzas
como a tu propia vida.

Hazte hermano de la sabiduría;
hazte amigo del conocimiento,
y te librará de la mujer
que te engaña con sus palabras
y le es infiel a su esposo.

Un día en que yo estaba
mirando a través de la ventana,
vi entre los muchachos imprudentes
a uno más imprudente que otros.
Llegó a la esquina,
cruzó la calle,
y lentamente se dirigió
a la casa de esa mujer.
Ya había caído la noche.
El día llegaba a su fin.

10 En ese preciso instante
la mujer salió a su encuentro.
Iba vestida como una prostituta,
y no disimulaba sus intenciones.
11 Llamaba mucho la atención;
se veía que era una mujer
incapaz de quedarse en casa.
12 A esa clase de mujeres
se las ve andar por las calles,
o andar vagando por las plazas,
o detenerse en cada esquina
esperando a ver quién pasa.
13 Cuando la mujer vio al joven,
se le echó al cuello y lo besó,
y abiertamente le propuso:

14 «Puedo invitarte a comer
de la carne ofrecida a mis dioses.
Hoy les cumplí mis promesas,
y estoy en paz con ellos.
15 Por eso salí a tu encuentro;
te buscaba, ¡y ya te encontré!
16 Tengo tendida en la cama
una colcha muy fina y colorida.
17 Mi cama despide el aroma
de los perfumes más excitantes.
18 Ven conmigo;
hagamos el amor hasta mañana.
19 Mi esposo no está en casa,
pues ha salido de viaje.
20 Llenó de dinero sus bolsas,
y no volverá hasta mediados del mes».

21 Con tanta dulzura le habló,
que lo hizo caer en sus redes.
22 Y el joven se fue tras ella
como va el buey al matadero;
cayó en la trampa como un venado
23 cuando le clavan la flecha;
cayó como los pájaros,
que vuelan contra la red
sin saber que perderán la vida.

24 Querido jovencito: obedéceme;
pon atención a lo que te digo.
25 No pienses en esa mujer,
ni pierdas por ella la cabeza.
26 Por culpa suya muchos han muerto;
¡sus víctimas son ya demasiadas!
27 Todo el que entra en su casa
va derecho a la tumba.

A Warning Against a Woman Who Commits Adultery

My son, obey my words.
    Store up my commands inside you.
Obey my commands and you will live.
    Guard my teachings as you would guard your own eyes.
Tie them on your fingers.
    Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.”
    Say to understanding, “You are a member of my family.”
They will keep you from a woman who commits adultery.
    They will keep you from the smooth talk of a sinful wife.

I stood at the window of my house.
    I looked down through it.
Among those who were childish
    I saw a young man who had no sense.
He went down the street near that sinful woman’s corner.
    He walked toward her house.
The sun had gone down, and the day was fading.
    The darkness of night was falling.

10 A woman came out to meet him.
    She was dressed like a prostitute and had a clever plan.
11 She was wild and pushy.
    She never stayed at home.
12 Sometimes she’s in the streets. Sometimes she’s at other places.
    At every corner she waits.
13 She took hold of the young man and kissed him.
    With a bold face she spoke to him. She said,

14 “Today I offered what I promised I would.
    At home I have meat left over from my fellowship offering.
15 So I came out to meet you.
    I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
    with colored sheets from Egypt.
17 I’ve perfumed my bed with spices.
    I used myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
    Let’s enjoy ourselves by sleeping together!
19 My husband isn’t home.
    He’s gone on a long journey.
20 He took his bag full of money.
    He won’t be home for several days.”

21 She led him astray with her clever words.
    She charmed him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her.
    He was like an ox going to be killed.
He was like a deer stepping into a trap
23     until an arrow struck its liver.
He was like a bird rushing into a trap.
    Little did he know it would cost him his life!

24 My sons, listen to me.
    Pay attention to what I say.
25 Don’t let your hearts turn to her ways.
    Don’t step onto her paths.
26 She has brought down a lot of men.
    She has killed a huge crowd.
27 Her house is a road to the grave.
    It leads down to the place of the dead.

The Wiles of a Harlot

My son, keep my words,
And (A)treasure my commands within you.
(B)Keep my commands and live,
(C)And my law as the apple of your eye.
(D)Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
(E)That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.

The Crafty Harlot

For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the [a]youths,
A young man (F)devoid[b] of understanding,
Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
(G)In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.

10 And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 (H)She was loud and rebellious,
(I)Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an [c]impudent face she said to him:
14 I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of (J)Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For [d]my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money [e]with him,
And will come home [f]on the appointed day.”

21 [g]With (K)her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
(L)With her flattering lips she [h]seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or [i]as a fool to the correction of the [j]stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
(M)As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it [k]would cost his life.

24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
And (N)all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 (O)Her house is the way to [l]hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:7 Lit. sons
  2. Proverbs 7:7 lacking
  3. Proverbs 7:13 shameless
  4. Proverbs 7:19 Lit. the man
  5. Proverbs 7:20 Lit. in his hand
  6. Proverbs 7:20 at the full moon
  7. Proverbs 7:21 By the greatness of her words
  8. Proverbs 7:21 compelled
  9. Proverbs 7:22 LXX, Syr., Tg. as a dog to bonds; Vg. as a lamb . . . to bonds
  10. Proverbs 7:22 shackles
  11. Proverbs 7:23 Lit. is for
  12. Proverbs 7:27 Or Sheol

Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

My son,(A) keep my words
    and store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and you will live;(B)
    guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(C)
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and to insight, “You are my relative.”
They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words.(D)

At the window of my house
    I looked down through the lattice.
I saw among the simple,
    I noticed among the young men,
    a youth who had no sense.(E)
He was going down the street near her corner,
    walking along in the direction of her house
at twilight,(F) as the day was fading,
    as the dark of night set in.

10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
    dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is unruly(G) and defiant,
    her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
    at every corner she lurks.)(H)
13 She took hold of him(I) and kissed him
    and with a brazen face she said:(J)

14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
    and I have food from my fellowship offering(K) at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;
    I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
    with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed(L)
    with myrrh,(M) aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!(N)
19 My husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
    and will not be home till full moon.”

21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
    she seduced him with her smooth talk.(O)
22 All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b](P)
23     till an arrow pierces(Q) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.(R)

24 Now then, my sons, listen(S) to me;
    pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
    or stray into her paths.(T)
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
    her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
    leading down to the chambers of death.(U)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool
  2. Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.