Ecclesiastes 5
1 Guard your foot, when you step into the house of God, and draw near, so that you may listen. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of the foolish, who do not know the evil that they are doing.
Cuando fueres a la casa de Dios, guarda tu pie; y acércate más para oír que para dar el sacrificio de los locos; porque no saben hacer lo que Dios quiere.
2 You should not speak anything rashly, nor should your heart be hasty to present a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth. For this reason, let your words be few.
No te des prisa con tu boca, ni tu corazón se apresure a proferir palabra delante de Dios; porque Dios está en el cielo, y tú sobre la tierra; por tanto, sean pocas tus palabras.
3 Dreams follow many worries, and in many words foolishness will be found.
Porque de la mucha ocupación viene el sueño, y de la multitud de las palabras la voz del loco.
4 If you have vowed anything to God, you should not delay to repay it. And whatever you have vowed, render it. But an unfaithful and foolish promise displeases him.
Cuando a Dios hicieres promesa, no tardes en pagarla; porque no se agrada de los locos. Paga lo que prometieres.
5 And it is much better not to make a vow, than, after a vow, not to fulfill what was promised.
Mejor es que no prometas, que no que prometas y no pagues.
6 You should not use your mouth so as to cause your flesh to sin. And you should not say, in the sight of an Angel, “There is no Providence.” For God, being angry at your words, may scatter all the works of your hands.
No sueltes tu boca para hacer pecar a tu carne; ni digas delante del ángel, que fue ignorancia. ¿Por qué harás que Dios se aíre a causa de tu voz, y que destruya la obra de tus manos?
7 Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities and innumerable words. Yet truly, you must fear God.
Porque los sueños abundan, y las vanidades y las palabras son muchas; mas tú teme a Dios.
8 If you see false accusations against the indigent, and violent judgments, and subverted justice in the government, do not be surprised over this situation. For those in high places have others who are higher, and there are still others, more eminent, over these.
Si violencias de pobres, y extorsión de derecho y de justicia vieres en la provincia, no te maravilles de esta licencia; porque alto está mirando sobre alto, y uno más alto está sobre ellos.
9 But finally, there is the King who rules over the entire earth, which is subject to him.
Y mayor altura hay en todas las cosas de la tierra; mas el que sirve al campo es rey.
10 A greedy man will not be satisfied by money. And whoever loves wealth will reap no fruit from it. Therefore, this, too, is emptiness.
El que ama el dinero, no se saciará de dinero; y el que ama el mucho tener, no sacará fruto. También esto es vanidad.
11 Where there are many riches, there will also be many to consume these things. And how does it benefit the one who possesses, except that he discerns the wealth with his own eyes?
Cuando los bienes se aumentan, también se aumentan los que los comen. ¿Qué bien, pues, tendrá su dueño, sino verlos con sus ojos?
12 Sleep is sweet to one who works, whether he consumes little or much. But the satiation of a wealthy man will not permit him to sleep.
Dulce es el sueño del trabajador, coma mucho o coma poco; mas al rico no lo deja dormir la abundancia.
13 There is even another most burdensome infirmity, which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept to the harm of the owner.
Hay otra enfermedad maligna que he visto debajo del sol: las riquezas guardadas por sus dueños para su mal;
14 For they are lost in a most grievous affliction. He has produced a son, who will be in the utmost destitution.
las cuales se pierden en malas ocupaciones, y a los hijos que engendraron nada les queda en la mano.
15 Just as he went forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he return, and he shall take nothing with him from his labors.
Como salió del vientre de su madre, desnudo, así vuelve, yéndose tal como vino; y nada tiene de su trabajo para llevar en su mano.
16 It is an utterly miserable infirmity that, in the same manner as he has arrived, so shall he return. How then does it benefit him, since he has labored for the wind?
Este también es un gran mal, que como vino, así haya de volver. ¿Y de qué le aprovechó trabajar al viento?
17 All the days of his life he consumes: in darkness, and with many worries, and in distress as well as sadness.
Además de esto, todos los días de su vida comerá en tinieblas, con mucho enojo y dolor e ira.
18 And so, this has seemed good to me: that a person should eat and drink, and should enjoy the fruits of his labor, in which he has toiled under the sun, for the number of the days of his life that God has given him. For this is his portion.
He aquí pues el bien que yo he visto: Que lo bueno es comer y beber, y gozar uno del bien de todo su trabajo con que se fatiga debajo del sol, todos los días de su vida que Dios le ha dado; porque esta es su parte.
19 And this is a gift from God: that every man to whom God has given wealth and resources, and to whom he has granted the ability to consume these, may enjoy his portion, and may find joy in his labors.
Asimismo, a todo hombre a quien Dios dio riquezas y hacienda, también le dio facultad para que coma de ellas, y tome su parte, y goce su trabajo; esto es don de Dios.
20 And then he will not fully remember the days of his life, because God occupies his heart with delights.
Al tal, Dios le quitará las congojas comunes a otros; pues Dios le responderá con alegría de su corazón.
