Biblia Platense (Straubinger) · Catholic Public Domain Version
Eclesiastés 9
1Sobre todas estas cosas he reflexionado en mi corazón, y he averiguado que los justos y los sabios y sus obras están en la mano de Dios. El hombre no sabe (de antemano) ni el amor ni el odio; todo está adelante de él. I have drawn all these things through my heart, so that I might carefully understand. There are just men as well as wise men, and their works are in the hand of God. And yet a man does not know so much as whether he is worthy of love or of hatred.2Todo sucede igualmente a todos; una misma suerte aguarda al justo y al malhechor, al que es bueno y puro y al impuro; al que ofrece sacrificios y al que no los ofrece: al recto y al pecador; al que jura y al que teme jurar. But all things in the future remain uncertain, because all things happen equally to the just and to the impious, to the good and to the bad, to the pure and to the impure, to those who offer sacrifices and to those who despise sacrifices. As the good are, so also are sinners. As those who commit perjury are, so also are those who swear to the truth.3Este mal existe en todo cuanto debajo del sol acaece: una misma es la suerte de todos. Por eso el corazón de los hombres está lleno de malicia, y henchido de locura mientras viven, y después se van a morar con los muertos. This is a very great burden among all things that are done under the sun: that the same things happen to everyone. And when the hearts of the sons of men are filled with malice and contempt in their lives, afterwards they shall be dragged down to hell.4Para el que está entre los vivos hay esperanza; más vale perro vivo que león muerto. There is no one who lives forever, or who even has confidence in this regard. A living dog is better than a dead lion.5Los que viven saben que han de morir, mas los muertos no saben nada; y no esperan premio, pues su memoria se ha perdido. For the living know that they themselves will die, yet truly the dead know nothing anymore, nor do they have any recompense. For the memory of them is forgotten.6Amor, odio y envidia para ellos ya no existen, y no tendrán ya parte en lo que pasa debajo del sol. Likewise, love and hatred and envy have all perished together, nor have they any place in this age and in the work which is done under the sun.7Ve, pues, y come gozoso tu pan, y bebe con alegre corazón tu vino; porque Dios mira ya complacido tus obras. So then, go and eat your bread with rejoicing, and drink your wine with gladness. For your works are pleasing to God.8Sean tus vestidos en todo tiempo blancos; y no falte en tu cabeza el perfume. Let your garments be white at all times, and let not oil be absent from your head.9Goza de la vida con tu amada esposa todos los días de tu vida fugaz, que Él te ha dado debajo del sol durante todos los días de tu existencia caediza, porque esta es tu parte en la vida, y en los trabajos que has de sufrir debajo del sol. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your uncertain life which have been given to you under the sun, during all the time of your vanity. For this is your portion in life and in your labor, with which you labor under the sun.10Todo lo que pueda hacer tu mano ejecútalo con tus fuerzas, porque en el scheol a dónde vas no hay obra, ni plan, ni ciencia, ni sabiduría. Whatever your hand is able to do, do it earnestly. For neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge will exist in death, toward which you are hurrying.11Me volví (a examinar) y observé debajo del sol: que no es siempre de los ágiles el vencer en la carrera, ni de los valientes el triunfar en la guerra, ni de los sabios ganarse el pan, ni de los inteligentes el alcanzar riquezas, ni de los doctos el lograr favores; pues todos están sujetos al tiempo y al azar. I turned myself toward another thing, and I saw that under the sun, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor wealth to the learned, nor grace to the skillful: but there is a time and an end for all these things.12Tampoco conoce el hombre su hora. Como los peces se prenden en la fatal red, y los pájaros en el lazo, de igual modo se enredan los hombres en el tiempo aciago que los sobrecoge de repente. Man does not know his own end. But, just as fish are caught with a hook, and birds are captured with a snare, so are men seized in the evil time, when it will suddenly overwhelm them.13He visto debajo del sol también este ejemplo de sabiduría, que me pareció muy significativo. This wisdom, likewise, I have seen under the sun, and I have examined it intensely.14Había una pequeña ciudad y pocos hombres en ella; vino contra ella un rey poderoso que la cercó y levantó contra ella grandes torres. There was a small city, with a few men in it. There came against it a great king, who surrounded it, and built fortifications all around it, and the blockade was completed.15Y se halló en ella un hombre pobre, pero sabio, que salvó a la ciudad por su sabiduría. Mas después nadie se acordó de aquel hombre pobre. And there was found within it, a poor and wise man, and he freed the city through his wisdom, and nothing was recorded afterward of that poor man.16Y dije entonces: “Vale más la sabiduría que la fortaleza”, pero la sabiduría del pobre es despreciada, y no se hace caso de sus palabras. And so, I declared that wisdom is better than strength. But how is it, then, that the wisdom of the poor man is treated with contempt, and his words are not heeded?17Las palabras sosegadas de los sabios se oyen mejor que los gritos del que es príncipe entre insensatos. The words of the wise are heard in silence, more so than the outcry of a prince among the foolish.18Más vale sabiduría que pertrechos de guerra; pero un solo pecador destruye mucho bien. Wisdom is better than weapons of war. And whoever offends in one thing, shall lose many good things.