Eclesiastés 4

Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun,—and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have 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, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead,—more than the living, who were living, still;

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, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being,—who had not seen the vexatious work, which was 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.

Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour,—even this, was vanity, and a feeding on 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 dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth 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 a handful—with quietness,—than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on 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 again, I, looked at a vain thing 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.

Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches,—neither †saith he For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!

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.

Better are two, than one,—in that they have a good 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 the one should fall, †the other would raise up his companion,—but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise 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.

Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth,—but how can, one, have warmth?

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 an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him,—and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be 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 a boy poor and wise,—than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.

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, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.

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 were going hither and thither under the sun,—†that they were with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s 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 was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him,—surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on 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.