Eclesiastés 8
1 ¿Quién como el sabio? ¿Quién sabe la interpretación de un asunto? La sabiduría ilumina el rostro del hombre Y cambia la dureza de su semblante.
The wisdom of a man shines in his countenance, and even the expression of a most powerful man will change.
2 Digo: guarda el mandato del rey a causa del juramento ante ʼElohim.
I heed the mouth of the king, and the commandment of an oath to God.
3 No te apresures a irte de Él ni persistas en una mala acción, porque Él hace lo que le agrada.
You should not hastily withdraw from his presence, nor should you remain in an evil work. For all that pleases him, he will do.
4 Pues la palabra del rey tiene poder. ¿Quién le pedirá cuenta de lo que hace?
And his word is filled with authority. Neither is anyone able to say to him: “Why are you acting this way?”
5 El que observa el mandamiento no experimentará el mal. El corazón del sabio discierne el tiempo y el juicio.
Whoever keeps the commandment will not experience evil. The heart of a wise man understands the time to respond.
6 Porque para cada asunto hay un tiempo y un procedimiento. Aunque grande es el mal que viene sobre el hombre,
For every matter, there is a time and an opportunity, as well as many difficulties, for man.
7 Pues no sabe qué sucederá. Porque lo que va a suceder, ¿Quién le dirá cuando ocurrirá?
For he is ignorant of the past, and he is able to know nothing of the future by means of a messenger.
8 No hay hombre que tenga potestad sobre el hálito de vida para retener el alma, Ni potestad sobre el día de la muerte. No hay escape en guerra. La perversidad no librará a los que se entregan a ella.
It is not in the power of a man to prohibit the spirit, nor does he have authority over the day of death, nor is he permitted to rest when war breaks out, and neither will impiety save the impious.
9 Todo esto observé, y dediqué mi corazón a todo lo que se hace bajo el sol. Hay un hombre que domina a otro para su mal.
I have considered all these things, and I have applied my heart to all the works which are being done under the sun. Sometimes one man rules over another to his own harm.
10 Observé el funeral de los perversos, los que frecuentaban el Lugar Santo, mientras que en la ciudad pronto eran olvidados los que actuaban honestamente. También esto es vanidad.
I have seen the impious buried. These same, while they were still living, were in the holy place, and they were praised in the city as workers of justice. But this, too, is emptiness.
11 Porque no se ejecuta sentencia inmediata contra una obra mala. El corazón de los hijos de hombres está dispuesto a hacer el mal.
For the sons of men perpetrate evils without any fear, because judgment is not pronounced quickly against the evil.
12 Pero aunque el pecador haga el mal 100 veces y prolongue sus días, sé que le irá bien al que teme a ʼElohim,
But although a sinner may do evil of himself one hundred times, and by patience still endure, I realize that it will be well with those who fear God, who revere his face.
13 y que no le irá bien al perverso, ni le serán prolongados sus días, que serán como una sombra, porque no teme ante ʼElohim.
So, may it not go well with the impious, and may his days not be prolonged. And let those who do not fear the face of the Lord pass away like a shadow.
14 Hay otra vanidad que ocurre sobre la tierra: Hay justos a quienes les sucede según la obra de los impíos, y hay impíos a quienes les sucede Según la obra de los justos. Digo que también esto es vanidad.
There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are the just, to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the impious. And there are the impious, who are very secure, as though they possess the deeds of the just. But this, too, I judge to be a very great vanity.
15 Por tanto, alabo el placer, porque no hay cosa mejor para el hombre bajo el sol que comer y beber y estar alegre, y que esto le quede de su trabajo en los días de la vida que ʼElohim le dio bajo el sol.
And so, I praised rejoicing, because there was no good for a man under the sun, except to eat and drink, and to be cheerful, and because he may take nothing with him from his labor in the days of his life, which God has given to him under the sun.
16 Cuando apliqué mi corazón a conocer la sabiduría y a ver la tarea que se hace sobre la tierra aunque uno no pueda dormir ni de día ni de noche.
And I applied my heart, so that I might know wisdom, and so that I might understand a disturbance that turns upon the earth: it is a man, who takes no sleep with his eyes, day and night.
17 Vi toda obra de ʼElohim. El hombre no puede descubrir la obra hecha bajo el sol. Aunque el hombre busque laboriosamente y aunque algún sabio pretenda saberlo, no podrá descubrirla.
And I understood that man is able to find no explanation for all those works of God which are done under the sun. And so, the more that he labors to seek, so much the less does he find. Yes, even if a wise man were to claim that he knows, he would not be able to discover it.
