Biblia Platense (Straubinger) · Catholic Public Domain Version
Eclesiastés 8
1La sabiduría da brillo al rostro del hombre, y se muda la aspereza de su semblante. The wisdom of a man shines in his countenance, and even the expression of a most powerful man will change.2Yo (digo): Guarda el mandato del rey, a causa del juramento hecho a Dios. I heed the mouth of the king, and the commandment of an oath to God.3No te retires a la ligera de su presencia, ni te obstines en cosa mala; porque lo que quiere, eso lo hace. You should not hastily withdraw from his presence, nor should you remain in an evil work. For all that pleases him, he will do.4Pues la palabra del rey es poderosa, y quién le dirá: “¿Qué es lo que haces?” And his word is filled with authority. Neither is anyone able to say to him: “Why are you acting this way?”5El que guarda el mandato no experimentará mal alguno; el corazón del sabio conoce el tiempo y lo que conviene. Whoever keeps the commandment will not experience evil. The heart of a wise man understands the time to respond.6Pues cada cosa tiene su tiempo y su manera, porque es grande el mal que gravita sobre el hombre, For every matter, there is a time and an opportunity, as well as many difficulties, for man.7ya que ignora lo que ha de venir; y ¿quién le manifestará el modo de su realización? For he is ignorant of the past, and he is able to know nothing of the future by means of a messenger.8El hombre no es dueño de su aliento para retenerlo, ni tiene poder sobre el día de la muerte. No hay tregua en este combate, y la impiedad no podrá librar a los que la sirven. It is not in the power of a man to prohibit the spirit, nor does he have authority over the day of death, nor is he permitted to rest when war breaks out, and neither will impiety save the impious.9Todas estas cosas he visto, fijando mi atención sobre cuanto pasa debajo del sol. Hay tiempos en que el hombre domina al hombre para arruinarlo. I have considered all these things, and I have applied my heart to all the works which are being done under the sun. Sometimes one man rules over another to his own harm.10También he visto a impíos que recibieron sepultura y entraron (en el reposo), mientras los que frecuentaban el lugar santo son olvidados en la ciudad donde habían obrado rectamente. También esto es vanidad. I have seen the impious buried. These same, while they were still living, were in the holy place, and they were praised in the city as workers of justice. But this, too, is emptiness.11Por cuanto la sentencia contra el mal obrar no se ejecuta prontamente, por eso el corazón de los hijos de los hombres se anima a hacer el mal. For the sons of men perpetrate evils without any fear, because judgment is not pronounced quickly against the evil.12Pero aunque el pecador centuplique sus malas obras y prolongue (sus días), sin embargo sé yo que les irá bien a quienes temen a Dios, a los que temen en su presencia. But although a sinner may do evil of himself one hundred times, and by patience still endure, I realize that it will be well with those who fear God, who revere his face.13A los impíos, empero, no les irá bien; no prolongarán sus días, (serán) como la sombra, porque no temen la faz del Señor. So, may it not go well with the impious, and may his days not be prolonged. And let those who do not fear the face of the Lord pass away like a shadow.14(Otra) vanidad existe sobre la tierra: hay justos que padecen lo que corresponde a las obras de los impíos; e impíos que cobran como corresponde a las obras de los justos. Y dije: también esto es vanidad. There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are the just, to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the impious. And there are the impious, who are very secure, as though they possess the deeds of the just. But this, too, I judge to be a very great vanity.15Por eso ensalcé la alegría, puesto que el hombre no tiene otra ventura bajo el sol que comer, beber y alegrarse. Esto es lo que queda de su trabajo en los días de su vida que Dios le concede bajo el sol. And so, I praised rejoicing, because there was no good for a man under the sun, except to eat and drink, and to be cheerful, and because he may take nothing with him from his labor in the days of his life, which God has given to him under the sun.16Así apliqué mi corazón a conocer la sabiduría, y a examinar el trabajo que los hombres hacen sobre la tierra; porque hay ojos que ni de noche ni de día ven el sueño. And I applied my heart, so that I might know wisdom, and so that I might understand a disturbance that turns upon the earth: it is a man, who takes no sleep with his eyes, day and night.17Y vi toda la obra de Dios (y comprendí) que el hombre no puede entender cuanto se hace debajo del sol. Por mucho que se afane el hombre en buscar, nada descubrirá; y aun cuando el sabio afirmare saberlo, nada podrá hallar. And I understood that man is able to find no explanation for all those works of God which are done under the sun. And so, the more that he labors to seek, so much the less does he find. Yes, even if a wise man were to claim that he knows, he would not be able to discover it.