1 el hombre, nacido de mujer, corto de días y harto de tormentos. | 1 Man born of woman is short-lived and full of trouble, |
2 Como la flor, brota y se marchita, y huye como la sombra sin pararse. | 2 Like a flower that springs up and fades, swift as a shadow that does not abide. |
3 ¡Y sobre un ser tal abres tú los ojos, le citas a juicio frente a ti! | 3 Upon such a one will you cast your eyes so as to bring him into judgment before you, |
4 Mas ¿quién podrá sacar lo puro de lo impuro? ¡Ninguno! | 4 Can a man be found who is clean of defilement? There is none, |
5 Si es que están contados ya sus días, si te es sabida la cuenta de sus meses, si un límite le has fijado que no franqueará, | 5 however short his days. You know the number of his months; you have fixed the limit which he cannot pass. |
6 aparta de él tus ojos, déjale, hasta que acabe, como un jornalero, su jornada. | 6 Look away from him and let him be, while, like a hireling, he completes his day. |
7 Una esperanza guarda el árbol: si es cortado, aún puede retoñar, y no dejará de echar renuevos. | 7 For a tree there is hope, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again and that its tender shoots will not cease. |
8 Incluso con raíces en tierra envejecidas, con un tronco que se muere en el polvo, | 8 Even though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the dust, |
9 en cuanto siente el agua, reflorece y echa ramaje como una planta joven. | 9 Yet at the first whiff of water it may flourish again and put forth branches like a young plant. |
10 Pero el hombre que muere queda inerte, cuando un humano expira, ¿dónde está? | 10 But when a man dies, all vigor leaves him; when man expires, where then is he? |
11 Podrán agotarse las aguas del mar, sumirse los ríos y secarse, | 11 As when the waters of a lake fail, or a stream grows dry and parches, |
12 que el hombre que yace no se levantará, se gastarán los cielos antes que se despierte, antes que surja de su sueño. | 12 So men lie down and rise not again. Till the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep. |
13 ¡Ojalá en el seol tú me guardaras, me escondieras allí mientras pasa tu cólera, y una tregua me dieras, para acordarte de mí luego | 13 Oh, that you would hide me in the nether world and keep me sheltered till your wrath is past; would fix a time for me, and then remember me! |
14 - pues, muerto el hombre, ¿puede revivir? - todos los días de mi milicia esperaría, hasta que llegara mi relevo! | 14 When a man has died, were he to live again, all the days of my drudgery I would wait, until my relief should come. |
15 Me llamarías y te respondería; reclamarías la obra de tus manos. | 15 You would call, and I would answer you; you would esteem the work of your hands. |
16 En lugar de contar mi pasos, como ahora, no te cuidarías más de mis pecados; | 16 Surely then you would count my steps, and not keep watch for sin in me. |
17 dentro de un saco se sellaría mi delito, y blanquearías mi falta. | 17 My misdeeds would be sealed up in a pouch, and you would cover over my guilt. |
18 Ay, como el monte acabará por derrumbarse, la roca cambiará de sitio, | 18 But as a mountain falls at last and its rock is moved from its place, |
19 las aguas desgastarán las piedras, inundará una llena los terrenos, así aniquilas tú la esperanza del hombre. | 19 As waters wear away the stones and floods wash away the soil of the land, so you destroy the hope of man. |
20 Le aplastas para siempre, y se va, desfiguras su rostro y le despides. | 20 You prevail once for all against him and he passes on; with changed appearance you send him away. |
21 Que sean honrados sus hijos, no lo sabe; que sean despreciados, no se entera. | 21 If his sons are honored, he is not aware of it; if they are in disgrace, he does not know about them. |
22 Tan solo por él sufre su carne, sólo por él se lamenta su alma. | 22 Only his own flesh pains him, and his soul grieves for him. |