1 No seas celoso de la mujer que amas, para no incitarla a comportarse mal contigo. | 1 You should not be jealous of the wife of your bosom, lest she reveal, because of you, the malice of a wicked lesson. |
2 Note entregues ciegamente a una mujer, hasta el punto que llegue a dominarte. | 2 You should not give authority over your soul to a woman, lest she obtain your strength, and then you would be confounded. |
3 No te acerques a una prostituta, no sea que caigas en sus redes. | 3 You should not look with favor on a woman with many desires, lest perhaps you may fall into her traps. |
4 No te entretengas con una cantante, para no ser atrapado por sus artimañas. | 4 You should not be continually in need of entertainment, nor should you be persuaded by it, lest perhaps you may perish by its effectiveness. |
5 No mires demasiado a una joven, para no incurrir en su misma condena. | 5 You should not stare at a virgin, lest perhaps you may be scandalized by her beauty. |
6 No te entregues a las prostitutas, para no arruinar tu patrimonio. | 6 You should not give your soul, in any way, to fornicators, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance. |
7 No vayas mirando por las calles de la ciudad ni rondes por sus lugares solitarios. | 7 Do not choose to look around in the streets of the city, nor should you wander along its thoroughfares. |
8 Aparta tu vista de la mujer hermosa y no fijes los ojos en la belleza ajena: muchos se extraviaron por la belleza de una mujer, y por su causa el deseo arde como fuego. | 8 Avert your face from an ornate woman, for you should not gaze upon strange beauty. |
9 Nunca te sientes junto a una mujer casada ni bebas vino con ella en los banquetes, no sea que tu corazón se incline hacia ella y por tu pasión te precipites en la ruina. | 9 Many have perished because of the beauty of a woman; and by this, desire is kindled like a fire. |
10 No abandones a un viejo amigo, porque uno nuevo no vale tanto como él. Amigo nuevo es como vino nuevo: que se ponga añejo, y lo beberás con placer. | 10 Every woman who is a fornicator will be trampled down, like the filth in the street. |
11 No envidies la gloria del pecador, porque no sabes cuál será su suerte. | 11 Many, by admiring the beauty of the wife of another, have become reprobate. For familiarity with her flares up like a fire. |
12 No te deleites en lo que deleita a los impíos: recuerda que bajarán al Abismo sin ser justificados. | 12 You should not sit down at all with another man’s wife, nor recline with her on a couch. |
13 Aléjate del que tiene poder para matar y no experimentarás el temor a la muerte. Si te acercas a él, no cometas ninguna falta, no sea que te quite la vida: ten en cuenta que avanzas entre lazos y que caminas por las almenas de la ciudad. | 13 And you should not argue with her over wine, lest perhaps your heart may turn toward her, and by your emotion, you would be toppled into perdition. |
14 Dentro de lo posible, recurre a tus vecinos y busca el consejo de los sabios. | 14 You should not abandon a old friend. For a new one will not be similar to him. |
15 Frecuenta el trato de las personas inteligentes y conversa siempre sobre la Ley del Altísimo. | 15 A new friend is like new wine. It will grow old, and then you will enjoy drinking it. |
16 Que los hombres justos sean tus comensales y que tu orgullo esté en el temor del Señor. | 16 You should not envy the glory and wealth of a sinner. For you do not know what may be his undoing in the future. |
17 Por la mano del artista, la obra es digna de elogio, y el jefe del pueblo se muestra sabio por sus palabras. | 17 The injury of the unjust should not please you, knowing that, until they are in hell, the impious will not please. |
18 El charlatán es el terror de su ciudad y el desmedido al hablar se hace odioso. | 18 Keep yourself far from a man having the power to kill, and then you will not have the fear of death suspended over you. |
| 19 But if you do approach him, do nothing to offend, lest perhaps he may take away your life. |
| 20 Know that this is a communion with death. For you would be entering the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of the grieving. |
| 21 According to your ability, be cautious of your neighbor, and treat him as the wise and prudent would. |
| 22 Let just men be your companions, and let your glory be in the fear of God. |
| 23 And let the thought of God be in your mind, and let all your discourse be on the precepts of the Most High. |
| 24 Works will be praised for the hands of the artists, and a leader of the people will be praised for the wisdom of his words, yet truly, the word of the elders will be praised for its understanding. |
| 25 A man full of words is a dread to his city, but one who speaks rashly will be hated for his word. |