Eclesiástico, 17

1. De la tierra creó el Señor al hombre, y de nuevo le hizo volver a ella.

1. The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.

2. Días contados le dio y tiempo fijo, y dioles también poder sobre las cosas de la tierra.

2. He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.

3. De una fuerza como la suya los revistió, a su imagen los hizo.

3. He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image,

4. Sobre toda carne impuso su temor para que dominara a fieras y volátiles.

4. And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.

5. Les formó lengua, ojos, oídos, y un corazón para pensar.

5. They received the use of the five operations of the Lord, and in the sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the seventh speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof.]

6. De saber e inteligencia los llenó, les enseñó el bien y el mal.

6. Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.

7. Puso su ojo en sus corazones, para mostrarles la grandeza de sus obras.

7. Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil.

8. Por eso su santo nombre alabarán, contando la grandeza de sus obras.

8. He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works.

9. Aun les añadió el saber, la ley de vida dioles en herencia.

9. He gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare his works with understanding.

10. Alianza eterna estableció con ellos, y sus juicios les enseñó.

10. And the elect shall praise his holy name.

11. Los ojos de ellos vieron la grandeza de su gloria, la gloria de su voz oyeron sus oídos.

11. Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage.

12. Y les dijo: «Guardaos de toda iniquidad», y a cada cual le dio órdenes respecto de su prójimo.

12. He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments.

13. Sus caminos están ante él en todo tiempo, no se ocultan a sus ojos.

13. Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.

14. A cada nación asignó un jefe, mas la porción del Señor es Israel.

14. And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.

15. Todas sus obras están ante él, igual que el sol, e incesantes sus ojos sobre sus caminos.

15. Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.

16. No se le ocultan sus iniquidades, todos sus pecados están ante el Señor.

16. Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.

17. La limosna del hombre es como un sello para él, el favor del hombre lo guarda como la pupila de sus ojos.

17. For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord's portion:

18. Después se levantará y les retribuirá, sobre su cabeza pondrá su recompensa.

18. Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.

19. Pero a los que se arrepienten les concede retorno, y consuela a los que perdieron la esperanza.

19. Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.

20. Conviértete al Señor y deja tus pecados, suplica ante su faz y quita los obstáculos.

20. None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord

21. Vuélvete al Altísimo y apártate de la injusticia, odia con toda el alma la abominación.

21. But the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them.

22. ¿Quién en el seol alabará al Altísimo si los vivientes no le dan gloria?

22. The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his sons and daughters.

23. No hay alabanza que venga de muerto, como de quien no existe; es el que vive y goza de salud quien alaba al Señor.

23. Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.

24. ¡Qué grande es la misericordia del Señor, y su perdón para los que a él se convierten!

24. But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.

25. Pues no todo puede estar en poder de los hombres, que no es inmortal el hijo de hombre.

25. Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.

26. ¿Qué hay más luminoso que el sol? Con todo, desaparece. Mas la carne y la sangre sólo el mal conciben.

26. Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently.

27. Al ejército de lo alto de los cielos pasa él revista, pero polvo y ceniza son los hombres.

27. Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?

28.

28. Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.

29.

29. How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!

30.

30. For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.

31.

31. What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and flesh and blood will imagine evil.

32.

32. He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.