Proverbios 4
1 OID, hijos, la doctrina de un padre, y estad atentos para que conozcáis cordura.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 Porque os doy buena enseñanza; no desamparéis mi ley.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Porque yo fuí hijo de mi padre, delicado y único delante de mi madre.
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 Y él me enseñaba, y me decía: Mantenga tu corazón mis razones, guarda mis mandamientos, y vivirás:
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 Adquiere sabiduría, adquiere inteligencia; no te olvides ni te apartes de las razones de mi boca;
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 No la dejes, y ella te guardará; ámala, y te conservará.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Sabiduría ante todo: adquiere sabiduría: y ante toda tu posesión adquiere inteligencia.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Engrandécela, y ella te engrandecerá: ella te honrará, cuando tú la hubieres abrazado.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Adorno de gracia dará á tu cabeza: corona de hermosura te entregará.
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Oye, hijo mío, y recibe mis razones; y se te multiplicarán años de vida.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Por el camino de la sabiduría te he encaminado, y por veredas derechas te he hecho andar.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 Cuando anduvieres no se estrecharán tus pasos; y si corrieres, no tropezarás.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Ten el consejo, no lo dejes; guárdalo, porque eso es tu vida.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 No entres por la vereda de los impíos, ni vayas por el camino de los malos.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Desampárala, no pases por ella; apártate de ella, pasa.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Porque no duermen ellos, si no hicieren mal; y pierden su sueño, si no han hecho caer.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 Porque comen pan de maldad, y beben vino de robos.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Mas la senda de los justos es como la luz de la aurora, que va en aumento hasta que el día es perfecto.
The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 El camino de los impíos es como la oscuridad: no saben en qué tropiezan.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 Hijo mío, está atento á mis palabras; inclina tu oído á mis razones.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 No se aparten de tus ojos; guárdalas en medio de tu corazón.
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 Porque son vida á los que las hallan, y medicina á toda su carne.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Sobre toda cosa guardada guarda tu corazón; porque de él mana la vida.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Aparta de ti la perversidad de la boca, y aleja de ti la iniquidad de labios.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Tus ojos miren lo recto, y tus párpados en derechura delante de ti.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Examina la senda de tus pies, y todos tus caminos sean ordenados.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 No te apartes á diestra, ni á siniestra: aparta tu pie del mal.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
