1 W atch your steps as you go to the house of God. Go near and listen but do not give the gift of fools. For they do not know they are sinning.

Cuando vayas a la casa de Dios, refrena tus pasos. En vez de acercarte para ofrecer sacrificios de gente necia, que no sabe que hace mal, acércate para oír.

2 D o not hurry to speak or be in a hurry as you think what to tell God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth. So let your words be few.

No permitas que tu boca ni tu corazón se apresuren a decir nada delante de Dios, porque Dios está en el cielo y tú estás en la tierra. Por lo tanto, habla lo menos que puedas,

3 F or a dream comes with much work, and the voice of a fool comes with many words.

porque si te preocupas mucho, tienes pesadillas; y si hablas mucho, dices tonterías.

4 W hen you make a promise to God, do not be late in paying it, for He is not pleased with fools. Pay what you promise to pay!

Cuando le hagas una promesa a Dios, no tardes en cumplírsela, porque a Dios no le agrada la gente necia. Cumple lo que prometas,

5 I t is better not to make a promise, than to make a promise and not pay it.

porque es mejor que no prometas, y no que prometas y no cumplas.

6 D o not let your mouth cause you to sin. And do not say to the one sent from God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you said, and destroy the work of your hands?

No permitas que tus labios te hagan pecar, ni digas delante del ángel que lo hiciste por ignorancia. ¿Para qué provocar que Dios se enoje por tus palabras, y que destruya todo lo que has hecho?

7 F or when there are many dreams, there are many empty words. Instead of this, honor God with fear. Money and Honor Are of Little Worth

Tú debes temer a Dios. Porque cuando los sueños aumentan, también aumentan las palabras huecas. La vanidad de la vida

8 I n one part of a land if you see a bad power held over the poor, and what is right and fair and good taken away, do not be surprised by what you see. For one leader watches over another leader, and more important leaders watch over them.

Si en tu provincia ves que se oprime a los pobres, y que se tuercen el derecho y la justicia, esto no debe asombrarte, porque sobre un alto oficial hay otro más alto, y por encima de ellos hay uno más alto.

9 A fter all, a country does better with a king in power.

¿Y qué provecho saca la tierra de todo esto? ¿Acaso el rey está al servicio del campo?

10 H e who loves money will never have enough money to make him happy. It is the same for the one who loves to get many things. This also is for nothing.

Quien ama el dinero, jamás tiene suficiente. Quien ama las riquezas, nunca recibe bastante. ¡Y también esto es vanidad!

11 W hen there are more good things, there are also more people to eat them. So what does their owner get except to see them with his eyes?

Cuando aumentan los bienes, aumentan los comensales. ¿Y qué gana su dueño con esto, aparte de poder contemplar sus bienes?

12 T he sleep of the working man is pleasing, if he eats little or much. But the full stomach of the rich man does not let him sleep.

El que trabaja tiene dulces sueños, aun cuando coma mucho o coma poco. En cambio, al rico tanta abundancia le quita el sueño.

13 T here is something very wrong which I have seen under the sun: Riches being kept by the owner and he is hurt by them.

He visto un mal terrible bajo el sol, y es que las riquezas acumuladas acaban por perjudicar a sus dueños,

14 W hen those riches are lost because he used them in a wrong way, and he had become the father of a son, there was nothing left for him.

pues se pueden perder en un mal negocio, ¡y a los hijos que tuvo no les deja nada!

15 A man comes from his mother without clothing, and he will go as he came. He will take nothing from his work that he can carry in his hand.

Al final, se va tal como vino, es decir, tan desnudo como cuando salió del vientre de su madre, ¡y nada se lleva de todo su trabajo!

16 T his also is very wrong: As a man is born, this is the way he will leave. So what does the man get who works for the wind?

También esto es un mal terrible, que se vaya tal como vino. ¿De qué le sirvió tanto trabajar para nada?

17 A ll his life he eats in darkness with much sorrow, sickness and anger.

Para colmo, toda su vida la pasa comiendo a oscuras, y en medio de muchos afanes, dolores y miseria.

18 T his is what I have seen to be good and right: to eat and to drink and be happy in all the work one does under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him. For this is his reward.

Pero algo bueno he visto. Y es que no hay nada mejor que comer y beber y gozar, cada día de nuestra vida, del fruto del trabajo con que nos agobiamos bajo el sol. Ésa es la herencia que de Dios hemos recibido.

19 A s for every man to whom God has given riches and many good things, He has also given him the power to eat from them, receive his reward and be happy in his work. This is the gift of God.

A cada uno de nosotros Dios nos ha dado riquezas y bienes, y también nos ha dado el derecho de consumirlas. Tomar nuestra parte y disfrutar de nuestro trabajo es un don de Dios.

20 F or he will not think much about the years of his life, because God keeps him happy in his heart.

Y como Dios nos llena de alegría el corazón, no nos preocupamos mucho por los días de nuestra vida.