Eclesiastés 4

And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.

Y TORNÉME yo, y vi todas las violencias que se hacen debajo del sol: y he aquí las lágrimas de los oprimidos, y sin tener quien los consuele; y la fuerza estaba en la mano de sus opresores, y para ellos no había consolador.

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.

Y alabé yo los finados que ya murieron, más que los vivientes que hasta ahora están vivos.

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.

Y tuve por mejor que unos y otros al que no ha sido aún, que no ha visto las malas obras que debajo del sol se hacen.

Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

Visto he asimismo que todo trabajo y toda excelencia de obras mueve la envidia del hombre contra su prójimo. También esto es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.

El necio dobla sus manos y come su carne.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.

Mas vale el un puño lleno con descanso, que ambos puños llenos con trabajo y aflicción de espíritu.

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.

Yo me torné otra vez, y vi vanidad debajo del sol.

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.

Está un hombre solo y sin sucesor; que ni tiene hijo ni hermano; mas nunca cesa de trabajar, ni sus ojos se hartan de sus riquezas, ni se pregunta: ¿Para quién trabajo yo, y defraudo mi alma del bien? También esto es vanidad, y duro trabajo.

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.

Mejores son dos que uno; porque tienen mejor paga de su trabajo.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.

Porque si cayeren, el uno levantará á su compañero: mas ¡ay del solo! que cuando cayere, no habrá segundo que lo levante.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.

So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?

También si dos durmieren juntos, se calentarán; mas ¿cómo se calentará uno solo?

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.

Y si alguno prevaleciere contra el uno, dos estarán contra él; y cordón de tres dobleces no presto se rompe.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.

Mejor es el muchacho pobre y sabio, que el rey viejo y fatuo que no sabe ser aconsejado.

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.

Porque de la cárcel salió para reinar; mientras el nacido en su reino se hizo pobre.

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.

Vi todos los vivientes debajo del sol caminando con el muchacho sucesor, que estará en lugar de aquél.

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

No tiene fin todo el pueblo que fué antes de ellos: tampoco los que vendrán después estarán con él contentos. Y esto es también vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.