1 M e volví y vi todas las violencias que se hacen debajo del sol; y he aquí las lágrimas de los oprimidos, sin tener quien los consuele; y la violencia estaba en la mano de sus opresores, y para ellos no había consolador.

Then I returned and considered all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun: And I beheld the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no comforter.

2 Y alabé yo a los difuntos, los que ya murieron, más que a los vivientes, los que viven todavía.

So I praised and thought more fortunate those who have been long dead than the living, who are still alive.

3 Y tuve por más feliz que unos y otros al que no ha existido aún, que no ha visto las malas obras que se hacen debajo del sol.

But better than them both is he who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4 H e visto asimismo que todo esfuerzo y el éxito de toda obra despierta la envidia del hombre contra su prójimo. También esto es vanidad y esfuerzo inútil.

Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

5 E l necio cruza sus manos y come su misma carne.

The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh.

6 M ás vale un puño lleno con descanso, que ambos puños llenos con fatiga y esfuerzo inútil.

Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full with painful effort, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

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

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

8 H ay un hombre que está solo y sin sucesor, que no tiene hijo ni hermano; pero nunca cesa de trabajar, ni sus ojos se sacian de sus riquezas, ni se pregunta: ¿Para quién trabajo yo, y privo a mi alma del bienestar? También esto es vanidad, y triste tarea.

Here is one alone—no one with him; he neither has child nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labor, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither does he ask, For whom do I labor and deprive myself of good? This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy business.

9 M ejor es dos juntos que uno solo; porque tienen mejor paga de su trabajo.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor;

10 S i cae uno, el otro levantará a su compañero; pero ¡ay del solo! que si se cae, no habrá otro que lo levante.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

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

Again, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?

12 S i alguno prevalece contra uno, dos le resistirán; y el cordel de tres hilos no se rompe fácilmente.

And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 M ás vale un muchacho pobre y sabio, que el rey viejo y necio que no admite consejos;

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive counsel (friendly reproof and warning)—

14 p orque de la cárcel saldrá aquél para reinar, aunque en su reino nació pobre.

Even though comes out of prison to reign, while the other, born a king, becomes needy.

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

I saw all the living who walk under the sun with the youth who was to stand up in the king’s stead.

16 N o tenía fin la muchedumbre del pueblo que le seguía; sin embargo, los que vengan después tampoco estarán contentos de él. Y esto es también vanidad y esfuerzo inútil.

There was no end to all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it.