Eclesiastés 4

I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.

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.

And so, I praised the dead more than the living.

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.

And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are 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.

Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.

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 folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:

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.

“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”

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.

While considering this, I also discovered another vanity 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.

He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.

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.

Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.

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.

If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift 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.

And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?

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 if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.

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 boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.

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 sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.

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 who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.

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.

The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.

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.

Guard your foot, when you step into the house of God, and draw near, so that you may listen. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of the foolish, who do not know the evil that they are doing.

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