Ecclesiastes 10
1 [A few] dead flies in [a bottle of] perfume cause [all] the perfume to stink. Similarly [SIM], a small amount of acting foolishly can have a greater effect than acting wisely.
Moscas muertas infectan y corrompen el ungüento del perfumista; así una leve locura es mengua de la sabiduría y de la gloria.
2 If people think sensibly, it will lead them to do what is right; if they think foolishly, it causes them to do what is wrong.
El corazón del sabio está en su mano derecha, el del necio en su izquierda.
3 Even while foolish people walk along the road, they show that they do not have good sense; they show everyone that they are not wise.
Por cualquier camino que vaya el necio le falta el tino, y declara a cada uno que es un necio.
4 Do not quit working for a ruler when he is angry with you; if you remain calm, he will [probably] stop being angry.
No dejes tu lugar si la ira del que manda se enciende contra ti; porque la mansedumbre calma graves errores.
5 There is something [else] that I have seen here on this earth, something that rulers sometimes do that is wrong/inappropriate:
Hay un mal que he visto debajo del sol, una especie de errores que provienen del príncipe:
6 They appoint foolish people to have important positions, while they appoint rich [people] to have unimportant positions.
la necedad elevada a los puestos más altos, y los señores sentados abajo.
7 They allow slaves [to ride] on horses [like rich people usually do], [but] they force officials to walk [like slaves usually do].
Vi a esclavos ir a caballo, y a príncipes andar sobre la tierra como esclavos.
8 [It is possible that] those who dig pits will fall into one of those pits. [It is possible that] someone who tears down a wall will be bitten by a snake [that is in that wall].
Quien cava una fosa, en ella caerá, y quien destruye un vallado le muerde la serpiente.
9 If you work in a quarry, [it is possible that] a stone [will fall on you and] injure you. [It is possible that] men who split logs will be injured by one of those logs.
El que rueda piedras se lastima con ellas, y quien parte leña corre peligro de herirse.
10 If your axe is not sharp [DOU], you will need to work harder [to cut down a tree], but by being wise, you will succeed.
Si el hierro se embota y no se aguza el filo, se requiere mayor esfuerzo, pero la sabiduría halla la ventaja.
11 If a snake bites a man before he charms/tames it, his ability to charm snakes will not benefit him.
Si muerde la serpiente por fallar el encantamiento, ¿qué provecho tiene el encantador?
12 Wise people say [MTY] what is sensible, and because of that, people honor them; but foolish people are destroyed by what they say [MTY].
En la boca del sabio las palabras son llenas de gracia, mas al necio le devoran sus labios.
13 When foolish people start to talk, they say things that are foolish, and they end by saying things that are both wicked and foolish.
El principio de las palabras de su boca es necedad, y el fin de su hablar es locura perniciosa.
14 They talk (too much/without ceasing). None of us knows what will happen in the future, or what will happen after we die.
El necio habla mucho. Ignora el hombre lo que pasó; y lo que después de él sucederá ¿quién se lo manifiesta?
15 Foolish people become [so] exhausted by the work that they do that they are unable to find the road to their town/homes.
Al necio le fatigan sus afanes, ni siquiera sabe por dónde se va a la ciudad.
16 Terrible things will happen to the people of a nation whose ruler is a foolish young man, and whose [other] leaders continually eat, all day long, every day.
¡Ay de ti, país, cuando por rey tienes a un niño, y tus príncipes banquetean ya a la mañana!
17 [But] a nation will prosper if its ruler is from a (noble/well-educated) family, and if its [other] leaders feast [only] at the proper times, and [if they eat and drink only] to be strong, not to become drunk.
¡Dichoso tú, oh, país, cuando tu rey es hijo de nobles, y tus príncipes comen a su tiempo, para sustentarse, y no para embriagarse!
18 Some men are very lazy [and do not repair the rafters], with the result that the rafters sag [and collapse]; and if they do not repair the roof, water will leak into the house [when it rains].
A causa de la pereza se desploma la techumbre, y por flojedad de manos será toda la casa una gotera.
19 Eating food and drinking wine causes us to laugh and be happy, [but] we are able to enjoy those things only if we have money [to buy them].
Para gozar se hacen convites; el vino hace alegre la vida, y la plata sirve para todo.
20 Do not even think about cursing the king, or cursing rich [people, even] when you are [alone] in your bedroom, because [it is possible that] a little bird will hear [what you are saying], [and] tell those people what you said [about them].
Ni aun en tu pensamiento maldigas al rey, y ni siquiera en el interior de tu alcoba hables mal del poderoso, porque un pájaro del cielo puede llevar tus palabras y denunciarte un alado.
