Ecclesiastes 4
World English Bible
4 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. 3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. 6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? 12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. 14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. 15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. 16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Eclesiastés 4
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Injusticias de la vida
4 Entonces yo me volví y observé todas las opresiones(A) que se cometen bajo el sol:
Y vi las lágrimas de los oprimidos,
Y no tenían quien los consolara;
En mano de sus opresores estaba el poder,
Y no tenían quien los consolara(B).
2 Así que felicité a los muertos, los que ya murieron,
Más que a los vivos, los que aún viven(C).
3 Pero mejor que ambos está el que nunca ha existido(D),
Que nunca ha visto las malas obras que se cometen bajo el sol.
4 He visto que todo trabajo y toda obra hábil(E) que se hace es el resultado de la rivalidad entre el hombre y su prójimo. También esto es vanidad y correr tras el viento[a](F).
5 El necio se cruza de manos(G)
Y devora su propia carne(H).
6 Más vale una mano[b] llena de descanso
Que dos puños llenos de trabajo(I) y correr tras el viento.
7 Entonces yo me volví y observé la vanidad bajo el sol:
8 Había un hombre solo, sin sucesor[c],
Que no tenía hijo ni hermano,
Sin embargo, no había fin a todo su trabajo.
En verdad, sus ojos no se saciaban de las riquezas(J),
Y nunca se preguntó: «¿Para quién trabajo yo(K)
Y privo a mi vida del placer?».
También esto es vanidad y tarea penosa(L).
9 ¶Más valen dos que uno solo,
Pues tienen mejor pago por su trabajo.
10 Porque si uno de ellos cae[d], el otro[e] levantará a su compañero;
Pero ¡ay del que cae cuando no hay otro[f] que lo levante!
11 Además, si dos se acuestan juntos se mantienen calientes[g],
Pero uno solo ¿cómo se calentará(M)?
12 Y si alguien[h] puede prevalecer contra el que está solo,
Dos lo resistirán.
Un cordel de tres hilos no se rompe fácilmente.
13 ¶Mejor es un joven pobre y sabio(N)
Que un rey viejo y necio,
Que ya no sabe recibir consejos.
14 Porque ha salido de la cárcel para reinar(O),
Aunque nació pobre en su reino.
15 He visto a todos los vivientes bajo el sol apresurarse a ir junto al joven sucesor[i] que lo reemplaza[j]. 16 No tenía fin la multitud[k] de todos los que lo[l] seguían, y ni aun los que vendrán después estarán contentos con él; pues también esto es vanidad y correr tras el viento(P).
Footnotes
- 4:4 O aflicción de espíritu, y así en los vers. 6 y 16.
- 4:6 Lit. palma.
- 4:8 Lit. sin un segundo.
- 4:10 Lit. si ellos caen.
- 4:10 Lit. uno.
- 4:10 Lit. un segundo.
- 4:11 Lit. tienen calor.
- 4:12 Lit. él.
- 4:15 Lit. el segundo joven.
- 4:15 Lit. se coloca en su lugar.
- 4:16 Lit. todo el pueblo.
- 4:16 Así en algunas versiones antiguas; en heb. los.
Ecclesiastes 4
King James Version
4 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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