1 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.

Then I saw all the bad powers that were ruling under the sun. I saw the tears of the people who were suffering under these powers, with no one to comfort them. Those who made it hard for them had the power. But the people had no one to comfort them.

2 Y alabé yo los finados que ya murieron, más que los vivientes que hasta ahora están vivos.

So I thought that those who are already dead are better off than those who are still living.

3 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.

But better than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong that is done under the sun.

4 V isto 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.

I have seen that all the work done is because a man wants what his neighbor has. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

5 E l necio dobla sus manos y come su carne.

The fool folds his hands and has no food to eat.

6 M as vale el un puño lleno con descanso, que ambos puños llenos con trabajo y aflicción de espíritu.

One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of work and trying to catch the wind.

7 Y o me torné otra vez, y vi vanidad debajo del sol.

Then I looked again at what is of no use under the sun.

8 E stá 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 was a certain man who lived alone. He did not have a son or a brother. Yet he worked all the time. His eyes were never happy with the riches he had, and he never asked, “For whom am I working and why am I keeping myself from happiness?” This also is for nothing. It is work that brings sorrow. A True Friend

9 M ejores son dos que uno; porque tienen mejor paga de su trabajo.

Two are better than one, because they have good pay for their work.

10 P orque si cayeren, el uno levantará á su compañero: mas ­ay del solo! que cuando cayere, no habrá segundo que lo levante.

For if one of them falls, the other can help him up. But it is hard for the one who falls when there is no one to lift him up.

11 T ambién si dos durmieren juntos, se calentarán; mas ¿cómo se calentará uno solo?

And if two lie down together, they keep warm. But how can one be warm alone?

12 Y si alguno prevaleciere contra el uno, dos estarán contra él; y cordón de tres dobleces no presto se rompe.

One man is able to have power over him who is alone, but two can stand against him. It is not easy to break a rope made of three strings.

13 M ejor es el muchacho pobre y sabio, que el rey viejo y fatuo que no sabe ser aconsejado.

A poor and wise boy is better than an old and foolish king who will no longer listen to words of wisdom.

14 P orque de la cárcel salió para reinar; mientras el nacido en su reino se hizo pobre.

A man can come out of prison to become king, even if he was born poor in his nation.

15 V i todos los vivientes debajo del sol caminando con el muchacho, sucesor, que estará en lugar de aquél.

I have seen all the living under the sun gather to the side of the boy who becomes king in his place.

16 N o 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 was no end to all the people. He ruled over all of them. Yet those who come later will not be happy with him. For this also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.