Eclesiastés 4

Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was 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 I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

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.

But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that 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.

I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the 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 fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

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.

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the 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.

Again, I saw futility 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.

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

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 return for their labor.

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.

For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!

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.

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?

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 though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is 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.

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

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.

For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own 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 that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded 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 is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the 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.