1 ¶ Cuando fueres a la casa de Dios, guarda tu pie; y acércate más para oír que para dar el sacrificio de los locos; porque no saben hacer lo que Dios quiere.

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.

2 N o te des prisa con tu boca, ni tu corazón se apresure a proferir palabra delante de Dios; porque Dios está en el cielo, y tú sobre la tierra; por tanto, sean pocas tus palabras.

Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

3 P orque de la mucha ocupación viene el sueño, y de la multitud de las palabras la voz del loco.

For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.

4 ¶ Cuando a Dios hicieres promesa, no tardes en pagarla; porque no se agrada de los locos. Paga lo que prometieres.

When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!

5 M ejor es que no prometas, y no que prometas y no pagues.

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

6 N o sueltes tu boca para hacer pecar a tu carne; ni digas delante del ángel, que fue ignorancia. ¿Por qué harás que Dios se aíre a causa de tu voz, y que destruya la obra de tus manos?

Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

7 P orque los sueños abundan, y las vanidades y las palabras son muchas; mas tú teme a Dios.

For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

8 S i violencias de pobres, y extorsión de derecho y de justicia vieres en la provincia, no te maravilles de esta licencia; porque alto está mirando sobre alto, y uno más alto está sobre ellos.

If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.

9 ¶ Y mayor altura hay en todas las cosas de la tierra; mas el que sirve al campo es rey.

After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land. The Folly of Riches

10 E l que ama el dinero, no se saciará de dinero; y el que ama el mucho tener, no sacará fruto. También esto es vanidad.

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.

11 C uando los bienes se aumentan, también se aumentan los que los comen. ¿Qué bien, pues, tendrá su dueño, sino verlos con sus ojos?

When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?

12 D ulce es el sueño del trabajador, coma mucho o coma poco; mas al rico no lo deja dormir la abundancia.

The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

13 H ay otra enfermedad maligna que he visto debajo del sol: las riquezas guardadas por sus dueños para su mal;

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.

14 l as cuales se pierden en malas ocupaciones, y a los hijos que engendraron nada les queda en la mano.

When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.

15 C omo salió del vientre de su madre, desnudo, así vuelve, yéndose tal como vino; y nada tiene de su trabajo para llevar en su mano.

As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.

16 E ste también es un gran mal, que como vino, así haya de volver. ¿Y de qué le aprovechó trabajar al viento?

This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?

17 A demás de esto, todos los días de su vida comerá en tinieblas, con mucho enojo y dolor e ira.

Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.

18 ¶ He aquí pues el bien que yo he visto: Que lo bueno es comer y beber, y gozar uno del bien de todo su trabajo con que se fatiga debajo del sol, todos los días de su vida que Dios le ha dado; porque ésta es su parte.

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.

19 A simismo, a todo hombre a quien Dios dio riquezas y hacienda, también le dio facultad para que coma de ellas, y tome su parte, y goce su trabajo; esto es don de Dios.

Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

20 A l tal, Dios le quitará las congojas comunes a otros; pues Dios le responderá con alegría de su corazón.

For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.