Eclesiastés 6
1 Hay otro mal que he visto debajo del cielo, y muy común entre los hombres:
There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
2 Hombre, a quien Dios dio riquezas, y hacienda, y honra, y nada le falta de todo lo que su alma desea; y Dios no le dio facultad de comer de ello; antes los extraños se lo comen: esto vanidad es, y enfermedad trabajosa.
It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.
3 Si el hombre engendrare cien hijos, y viviere muchos años, y los días de su edad fueren asaz; si su alma no se hartó del bien, y también careció de sepultura; yo digo que el abortivo es mejor que él.
If a man were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child is better than he.
4 Porque en vano vino, y a tinieblas va, y con tinieblas será cubierto su nombre.
For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
5 Aunque no haya visto el sol, ni conocido nada, más reposo tiene este, que aquel.
He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
6 Porque si viviere mil años dos veces, y no gozó del bien; cierto todos van a un lugar.
Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?
7 Todo el trabajo del hombre es para su boca, y con todo eso, su deseo no se harta.
Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
8 Porque ¿qué más tiene el sabio que el insensato? ¿Qué más tiene el pobre que supo caminar entre los vivos?
What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?
9 Mas vale vista de ojos, que deseo que pasa; y también esto es vanidad, y aflicción de espíritu.
It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit.
10 El que es, ya su nombre ha sido nombrado, y se sabe, que es hombre; y que no podrá contender con el que es más fuerte que él.
Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.
11 Ciertamente las muchas palabras multiplican la vanidad. ¿Qué más tiene el hombre?
There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
12 Porque ¿quién sabe cual es el bien del hombre en la vida todos los días de la vida de su vanidad, que los pasa como sombra? Porque ¿quién enseñará al hombre que será después de él debajo del sol?
Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
