Ecclesiastes 4
1 I thought some more about all the suffering that people are caused to experience on the earth [MTY]. I saw the tears of people who were (oppressed/treated cruelly) and who had no one to comfort/encourage them. Those who oppressed them had power, and there was absolutely no one who was able to comfort those who were being oppressed.
Volví (a pensar) y vi todas las opresiones que se cometen debajo del sol; y miré a los oprimidos en sus lágrimas, sin haber nadie que los consolase, sujetos a la violencia de sus opresores sin tener consolador.
2 [So] I thought that those who are already dead are more fortunate than those who are still alive.
Por lo cual llamé dichosos a los hombres que ya murieron, más que a los vivos que viven todavía.
3 And those who have not been born yet are more fortunate than those who are still alive and those who have died, [because] those who have not been born have not seen all the evil things that are done on the earth.
Y más dichoso que ambos, a aquel que no ha sido, ni vio las cosas malas que se hacen bajo el sol.
4 I also thought about all the hard work that people do and the skills that they have. And I thought about how they compete with each other because they are envious of others, [and I concluded that] this also is something that is not accomplishing anything useful, [like] chasing the wind.
Vi además que todo trabajo y todo esmero que un hombre emplea en sus obras provoca la envidia de su prójimo. También esto es vanidad y correr tras el viento.
5 Foolish people [refuse to work]; they sit idly, with their hands folded, [and do not work]. [So] they ruin themselves.
Cruza el necio sus manos, y come su propia carne (diciendo):
6 [So I say], “It is better to be content with not having much money, than to work very hard and try to get a lot of money, which is [as useless as] chasing the wind.”
“Más vale una sola mano llena con reposo, que las dos llenas con trabajo y correr tras el viento.”
7 I thought about something else that happens on the earth [MTY] that seems senseless.
Reflexioné de nuevo y reparé en otra vanidad debajo del sol:
8 There are men who live alone; they do not have a wife or children or any brothers living with them; every day they work [very hard], without stopping, to get a lot of money, but they are never satisfied with the things that they have. They never ask [themselves], “Why am I working very hard to earn more money? Why am I not doing things that would cause me to be happy?” What they do also seems senseless.
Un hombre solo, sin compañero, sin hijo ni hermano, y con todo no cesa de trabajar, ni se hartan de riquezas sus ojos. (No dice): “¿Para quién trabajo yo y me privo de los placeres?” También esto es vanidad y grave molestia.
9 Having someone [work] with you is better than being by yourself [all the time]. If you have a friend, he can help you to do your work.
Más valen dos que uno solo; porque así sacan más fruto de su trabajo.
10 If you fall down, he can help you get up again. But if you fall down when you are alone, it will be difficult for you, because there will be no one to help you stand up.
Pues si caen, el uno puede levantar a su compañero. Mas ¡ay del solo si cae y no hay segundo que le levante!
11 Similarly, if two people sleep together, they can keep each other warm. But someone who sleeps alone will certainly not [RHQ] be warm.
Del mismo modo si duermen dos juntos, se calientan mutuamente; uno solo ¿cómo podrá calentarse?
12 Someone who is alone can easily be attacked and defeated by another person, but two people can help each other and (resist/defend themselves against) someone who attacks them. [Three people can defend themselves even more easily], [like] a rope that is made from three cords is harder to break [than a rope made from two cords].
Y si alguien ataca a uno, los dos le resisten; pues una cuerda triplicada difícilmente se rompe.
13 A young man who is poor but wise is a better person than a foolish old king who refuses to pay attention when people try to give him good advice.
Más vale un joven pobre y sabio que un rey viejo e insensato, que ya no sabe ponderar los consejos.
14 It is possible for a young man like that to succeed and some day become king, even if his parents were poor or even if he was in prison some of the time.
Pues aquel sale de la cárcel y llega a reinar, aunque nació pobre en el reino de este.
15 But then some other young man becomes king, and everyone (starts to support/is pleased with) him.
Y vi cómo todos los vivientes debajo del sol iban en pos del joven sucesor, quien en lugar del (rey) se levantaba.
16 Large crowds of people crowd around him. But after a few years, they will reject him, [too]. So it is all senseless, [like] chasing after the wind.
Era infinito el número de toda aquella gente, de todos aquellos a cuyo frente él marchaba, y sin embargo los que vendrán después, no se alegrarán por él. También esto es vanidad y correr tras el viento.
