Ecclesiastes · JPS Tanakh (1917)
Ecclesiastes 4 JPS Tanakh (1917)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Numbers like (22-2) in the text give the Hebrew verse numbering where it differs.
1 But I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.
1 Y TORNÉME yo, y vi todas las violencias que se hacen debajo del sol: y he aquí las lágrimas de los oprimidos, y sin tener quien los consuele; y la fuerza estaba en la mano de sus opresores, y para ellos no había consolador.
1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
2 Y alabé yo los finados que ya murieron, más que los vivientes que hasta ahora están vivos.
2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3 but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
3 Y [tuve] por mejor que unos y otros al que no ha sido aún, que no ha visto las malas obras que debajo del sol se hacen.
3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
4 Visto he asimismo que todo trabajo y toda excelencia de obras mueve la envidia del hombre contra su prójimo. También esto es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
5 El necio dobla sus manos y come su carne.
5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
6 Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.
6 Mas vale el un puño lleno con descanso, que ambos puños llenos con trabajo y aflicción de espíritu.
6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
7 Yo me torné otra vez, y vi vanidad debajo del sol.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.
8 Está un hombre solo y sin sucesor; que ni tiene hijo ni hermano; mas nunca cesa de trabajar, ni sus ojos se hartan de sus riquezas, [ni se pregunta]: ¿Para quién trabajo yo, y defraudo mi alma del bien? También esto es vanidad, y duro trabajo.
8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
9 Mejores son dos que uno; porque tienen mejor paga de su trabajo.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
10 Porque si cayeren, el uno levantará á su compañero: mas ¡ay del solo! que cuando cayere, no habrá segundo que lo levante.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
11 También si dos durmieren juntos, se calentarán; mas ¿cómo se calentará uno [solo]?
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
12 Y si alguno prevaleciere contra el uno, dos estarán contra él; y cordón de tres dobleces no presto se rompe.
12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
13 Mejor es el muchacho pobre y sabio, que el rey viejo y fatuo que no sabe ser aconsejado.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.
14 Porque de la cárcel salió para reinar; mientras el nacido en su reino se hizo pobre.
14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.
15 Vi todos los vivientes debajo del sol caminando con el muchacho sucesor, que estará en lugar de aquél.
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
16 No tiene fin todo el pueblo que fué antes de ellos: tampoco los que vendrán después estarán con él contentos. Y esto es también vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Cross references (16)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Ecclesiastes 3:16; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Isaiah 5:7; 2 Timothy 4:16–17; Isaiah 51:23
- 2 Job 3:11–26; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Ecclesiastes 9:4–6
- 3 Luke 23:29; Matthew 24:19; Ecclesiastes 6:3–5; Job 10:18–19; Jeremiah 9:2–3
- 4 1 John 3:12; Ecclesiastes 1:14; Ecclesiastes 2:21; Ecclesiastes 2:26; 1 Samuel 18:29–30
- 5 Isaiah 9:20; Proverbs 6:10–11; Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 20:4; Job 13:14
- 6 Proverbs 16:8; Proverbs 15:16–17; Psalm 37:16; Proverbs 17:1
- 7 Ecclesiastes 4:1; Psalm 78:33; Zechariah 1:6
- 8 1 John 2:16; Proverbs 27:20; Luke 12:20; Ecclesiastes 1:8; Matthew 11:28
- 9 Proverbs 27:17; Genesis 2:18; 1 Corinthians 12:18–21; Numbers 11:14; Mark 6:7
- 10 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Galatians 6:1; Isaiah 35:3–4; Job 4:3–4
- 11 1 Kings 1:1–4
- 12 Ephesians 4:3; Daniel 3:16–17
- 13 Proverbs 19:1; 2 Chronicles 25:16; 2 Chronicles 16:9–10; Proverbs 28:15–16; 1 Kings 22:8
- 14 Psalm 113:7–8; Genesis 41:14; Job 5:11; Lamentations 4:20; Genesis 41:33–44
- 15 2 Samuel 15:6
- 16 Ecclesiastes 1:14; 1 Kings 1:40; Ecclesiastes 2:17; 2 Samuel 15:12–13; 1 Kings 1:5–7
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences