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 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 a los difuntos, los que ya murieron, más que a los vivientes, los que viven todavía.

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

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 both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong that is 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.

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 cruza sus manos y come su misma carne.

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

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

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

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

Then I looked again at what is of no use 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.

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

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

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 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 duermen juntos, se calentarán mutuamente; mas ¿cómo se calentará uno solo?

And if two lie down together, they keep warm. 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.

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

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 saldrá aquél para reinar, aunque en su reino nació pobre.

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

15 V i a todos los que viven 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 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 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.