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.
Las moscas muertas hacen heder y dar mal olor el perfume del perfumador; y al estimado por sabiduría y honra una pequeña insensatez.
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 a su mano derecha: mas el corazón del insensato, a su mano 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.
Y aun cuando el insensato va por el camino, su cordura falta; y dice a todos: insensato es.
4 Do not quit working for a ruler when he is angry with you; if you remain calm, he will [probably] stop being angry.
Si espíritu de señor te acometiere, no dejes tu lugar; porque la flojedad hará reposar grandes pecados.
5 There is something [else] that I have seen here on this earth, something that rulers sometimes do that is wrong/inappropriate:
Hay otro mal que ví debajo del sol, como salido de delante del señor por yerro:
6 They appoint foolish people to have important positions, while they appoint rich [people] to have unimportant positions.
La insensatez está asentada en grandes alturas; y los ricos están sentados en bajeza.
7 They allow slaves [to ride] on horses [like rich people usually do], [but] they force officials to walk [like slaves usually do].
Ví siervos encima de caballos, y príncipes que andaban, como siervos, a tierra.
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].
El que hiciere el hoyo, caerá en él; y el que aportillare el vallado, morderle ha 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 mudare las piedras, tendrá trabajo en ellas: el que cortare la leña, peligrará en ella.
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 se embotare el hierro, y su filo no fuere aguzado, añadir más fuerza: mas la bondad de la sabiduría excede.
11 If a snake bites a man before he charms/tames it, his ability to charm snakes will not benefit him.
Si la serpiente mordiere no encantada, no es más el lenguaz.
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].
Las palabras de la boca del sabio son gracia: mas los labios del insensato lo echan a perder.
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 insensatez; y el fin de su habla, desvarío malo.
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 insensato multiplica palabras, y dice: No sabe hombre lo que ha de ser: ¿y quién le hará saber, lo que será después de él?
15 Foolish people become [so] exhausted by the work that they do that they are unable to find the road to their town/homes.
El trabajo de los insensatos los fatiga; porque no saben por donde van 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 tierra, cuando tu rey fuere mozo, y tus príncipes comen de 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.
¡Bienaventurada tierra tú, cuando tu rey fuere hijo de nobles, y tus príncipes comen a su hora por la fuerza, y no por el beber!
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].
Por la pereza se cae la techumbre; y por la flojedad de manos se llueve la casa.
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].
Por el placer se hace el convite, y el vino alegra los vivos; y el dinero responde a 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 digas mal del rey; ni en los secretos de tu cámara digas mal del rico; porque las aves del cielo llevarán la voz; y las que tienen alas, harán saber la palabra.
