Eclesiastés 10
1 Las moscas muertas hacen que hieda el perfume del perfumista. Así una pequeña locura al que es estimado como sabio y honorable.
[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.
2 El corazón del sabio se inclina a su derecha, Pero el corazón del necio, a su izquierda.
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.
3 Aun mientras va de camino le falta cordura al necio. A todos les anuncia que es necio.
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.
4 Si el temperamento del gobernante se levanta contra ti, No dejes tu lugar, Porque la mansedumbre apacigua grandes ofensas.
Do not quit working for a ruler when he is angry with you; if you remain calm, he will [probably] stop being angry.
5 Hay un mal que vi bajo el sol Y es prevaleciente entre los hombres:
There is something [else] that I have seen here on this earth, something that rulers sometimes do that is wrong/inappropriate:
6 El necio encumbrado en muchos lugares exaltados, Y el dotado en lugares humildes.
They appoint foolish people to have important positions, while they appoint rich [people] to have unimportant positions.
7 Vi esclavos a caballo, Y príncipes que andan Como esclavos con pie en tierra.
They allow slaves [to ride] on horses [like rich people usually do], [but] they force officials to walk [like slaves usually do].
8 El que cava un hoyo caerá en él, Y al que rompa el cerco lo morderá una serpiente.
[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].
9 El que corta piedras se lastimará con ellas, Y el que parte leños peligra en ello.
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.
10 Si el hierro pierde el filo y no le sacan corte, Hay que aplicar más fuerza. La sabiduría tiene la ventaja de dar éxito.
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.
11 Si la serpiente muerde antes de ser encantada, De nada sirve el encantador.
If a snake bites a man before he charms/tames it, his ability to charm snakes will not benefit him.
12 Las palabras del sabio son provechosas, Pero los labios del necio causan su propia ruina.
Wise people say [MTY] what is sensible, and because of that, people honor them; but foolish people are destroyed by what they say [MTY].
13 Las palabras de su boca comienzan con necedad, Y el fin de su charla es perverso desvarío.
When foolish people start to talk, they say things that are foolish, and they end by saying things that are both wicked and foolish.
14 El necio multiplica palabras Aunque nadie sabe lo que va a suceder, Y lo que habrá después de él. ¿Quién se lo dirá?
They talk (too much/without ceasing). None of us knows what will happen in the future, or what will happen after we die.
15 El trabajo de los necios los fatiga, Porque ni saben cómo ir a la ciudad.
Foolish people become [so] exhausted by the work that they do that they are unable to find the road to their town/homes.
16 ¡Ay de ti, oh tierra, cuando tu rey es un muchacho, Y tus príncipes banquetean en la mañana!
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.
17 ¡Dichosa tú, oh tierra, cuando tu rey es hijo de nobles, Y tus príncipes comen a su tiempo Para reponer fuerzas Y no para embriagarse!
[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.
18 Por la pereza se cae el techo, Y por la negligencia de manos la casa tiene goteras.
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].
19 Por placer se hace el banquete. El vino alegra la vida, Y el dinero sirve para todo.
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].
20 Ni en tu aposento maldigas al rey, Ni aun en el secreto de tu dormitorio hables mal del rico, Porque un ave del cielo puede llevar tu voz, Y un pájaro en vuelo puede contar el asunto.
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].
