Eclesiastés/Qohelet 8

BIBLIA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 ¿Quién como el sabio? ¿Quién otro sabe explicar una cosa? La sabiduría del hombre hace brillar su rostro, y sus facciones severas transfigura.	1 The wisdom of a man shines in his countenance, and even the expression of a most powerful man will change.
2 Aténte al dictado del rey, y por causa del juramento divino	2 I heed the mouth of the king, and the commandment of an oath to God.
3 no te apresures a irte de su presencia; no te mezcles en conspiración, pues todo cuanto le plazca puede hacerlo,	3 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 ya que la palabra regia es soberana, y ¿quién va a decirle: Qué haces?	4 And his word is filled with authority. Neither is anyone able to say to him: “Why are you acting this way?”
5 Quien se atiene al mandamiento, no sabe de conspiraciones. Y el corazón del sabio sabe el cuándo y el cómo.	5 Whoever keeps the commandment will not experience evil. The heart of a wise man understands the time to respond.
6 Porque todo asunto tiene su cuándo y su cómo. Pues es grande el peligro que acecha al hombre,	6 For every matter, there is a time and an opportunity, as well as many difficulties, for man.
7 ya que éste ignora lo que está por venir, pues lo que está por venir, ¿quién va a anunciárselo?	7 For he is ignorant of the past, and he is able to know nothing of the future by means of a messenger.
8 No es el hombre señor del viento para domeñar al viento. Tampoco hay señorío sobre el día de la muerte, ni hay evasión en la agonía, ni libra la maldad a sus autores.	8 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 tengo visto al aplicar mi corazón a cuanto pasa bajo el sol, cuando el hombre domina en el hombre para causarle el mal.	9 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 Por ejemplo, he visto a gente mala llevada a la tumba. Partieron del Lugar Santo, y se dio al olvido en la ciudad que hubiesen obrado de aquel modo. ¡Otro absurdo!:	10 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 que no se ejecute en seguida la sentencia de la conducta del malo, con lo que el corazón de los humanos se llena de ganas de hacer el mal;	11 For the sons of men perpetrate evils without any fear, because judgment is not pronounced quickly against the evil.
12 que el pecador haga el mal veces ciento, y se le den largas. Pues yo tenía entendido que les va bien a los temerosos de Dios, a aquellos que ante su rostro temen,	12 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 va bien al malvado, ni alargará sus días como sombra el que no teme ante el rostro de Dios.	13 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 Pues bien, un absurdo se da en la tierra: Hay justos a quienes les sucede cual corresponde a las obras de los malos, y malos a quienes sucede cual corresponde a las obras de los buenos. Digo que este es otro absurdo.	14 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 Y yo por mí alabo la alegría, ya que otra coasa buena no existe para el hombre bajo el sol, si no es comer, beber y divertirse; y eso es lo que le acompaña en sus fatigas en los días de vida que Dios le hubiera dado bajo el sol.	15 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 Cuanto más apliqué mi corazón a estudiar la sabiduría y a contemplar el ajetreo que se da sobre la tierra - pues ni de día ni de noche concilian los ojos el sueño -	16 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 fui viendo que el ser humano no puede descubrir todas las obras de Dios, las obras que se realizan bajo el sol. Por más que se afane el hombre en buscar, nada descubre, y el mismo sabio, aunque diga saberlo, no es capaz de descubrirlo.	17 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.