Eclesiastés 4

I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun. ⌞I saw the tears of the oppressed— no one comforts them! Those who oppress them are powerful— no one can comfort them⌟!

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 deemed the dead who have already died more fortunate than 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 off than both of them is the one who has not yet been born and has not seen the evil deeds that 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.

I also realized that all of the toil and all of the skillful work that is done—it is envy between one man and ⌞another⌟. This also is vanity and chasing 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 refuses to work with his hands, so he has nothing to eat except his own skin⌟!

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 is one handful with peace than two fists full with toil and chasing 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.

I turned again and saw 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.

Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving ⌞myself⌟ of pleasure?” This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!

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 the one, for they enjoy a better reward for their toil.

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, his companion may help him up. But pity the one who falls and there is ⌞no one⌟ 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.

Also if two lie together, ⌞they can keep each other warm⌟. But how can one person be warm?

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?

⌞Although an assailant may overpower one person, two may withstand him⌟. A threefold cord ⌞is not easily 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 poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who no longer knows ⌞how to receive advice⌟.

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 he came out of the prison house to reign, ⌞since he was born poor in his 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 who move about under the sun with the youth; the second who will stand in his place.

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 end to all the people, to all who were before him. Yet the later generation will not rejoice in him, for this also is vanity and chasing 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.