Eclesiástico, 34

1. Las esperanzas vanas y engañosas son para el imbécil, los sueños dan alas a los insensatos.

1. No evil will befall the man who fears the Lord, but in trial he will deliver him again and again.

2. Tratar de asir una sombra o perseguir el viento es buscar apoyo en los sueños.

2. A wise man will not hate the law, but he who is hypocritical about it is like a boat in a storm.

3. Espejo y sueño son casas semejantes, frente a un rostro, una imagen de rostro.

3. A man of understanding will trust in the law; for him the law is as dependable as an inquiry by means of Urim.

4. De los impuros, ¿qué pureza puede resultar? de la mentira, ¿qué verdad puede salir?

4. Prepare what to say, and thus you will be heard; bind together your instruction, and make your answer.

5. Adivinaciones, augurios y sueños cosas vanas son, como fantasías de corazón de mujer en parto.

5. The heart of a fool is like a cart wheel, and his thoughts like a turning axle.

6. A menos que te sean enviadas por el Altísimo en visita, no abras tu corazón a estas cosas.

6. A stallion is like a mocking friend; he neighs under every one who sits on him.

7. Que a muchos extraviaron los sueños, y cayeron los que en ellos esperaban.

7. Why is any day better than another, when all the daylight in the year is from the sun?

8. Sin dolo se ha de cumplir la Ley, y sabiduría en boca fiel es perfección.

8. By the Lord's decision they were distinguished, and he appointed the different seasons and feasts;

9. Hombre que ha corrido mundo sabe muchas cosas, el que tiene experiencia se expresa con inteligencia.

9. some of them he exalted and hallowed, and some of them he made ordinary days.

10. Quien no ha pasado pruebas poco sabe, quien ha corrido mundo posee gran destreza.

10. All men are from the ground, and Adam was created of the dust.

11. Muchas cosas he visto en el curso de mis viajes, más vasta que mis palabras es mi inteligencia.

11. In the fulness of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them and appointed their different ways;

12. Bien de veces he estado en peligro de muerte, y me salvé gracias a todo esto.

12. some of them he blessed and exalted, and some of them he made holy and brought near to himself; but some of them he cursed and brought low, and he turned them out of their place.

13. El espíritu de los que temen al Señor vivirá, porque su esperanza está puesta en aquel que los salva.

13. As clay in the hand of the potter -- for all his ways are as he pleases -- so men are in the hand of him who made them, to give them as he decides.

14. Quien teme al Señor de nada tiene miedo, y no se intimida, porque él es su esperanza.

14. Good is the opposite of evil, and life the opposite of death; so the sinner is the opposite of the godly.

15. Feliz el alma del que teme al Señor: ¿en quién se sostiene? ¿cuál es su apoyo?

15. Look upon all the works of the Most High; they likewise are in pairs, one the opposite of the other.

16. Los ojos del Señor sobre quienes le aman, poderosa protección, probado apoyo, abrigo contra el viento abrasador, abrigo contra el ardor del mediodía, guardia contra tropiezos, auxilio contra caídas,

16. I was the last on watch; I was like one who gleans after the grape-gatherers; by the blessing of the Lord I excelled, and like a grape-gatherer I filled my wine press.

17. que levanta el alma, alumbra los ojos, da salud, vida y bendición.

17. Consider that I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction.

18. Sacrificar cosa injusta es hacer ofrenda rechazada, no logran complacencia los presentes de los sin ley.

18. Hear me, you who are great among the people, and you leaders of the congregation, hearken.

19. No se complace el Altísimo en ofrendas de impíos, ni por el cúmulo de víctimas perdona los pecados.

19. To son or wife, to brother or friend, do not give power over yourself, as long as you live; and do not give your property to another, lest you change your mind and must ask for it.

20. Inmola a un hijo a los ojos de su padre quien ofrece víctima a costa de los bienes de los humildes.

20. While you are still alive and have breath in you, do not let any one take your place.

21. Pan de indigentes es la vida de los pobres, quien se lo quita es un hombre sanguinario.

21. For it is better that your children should ask from you than that you should look to the hand of you sons.

22. Mata a su prójimo quien le arrebata su sustento, vierte sangre quien quita el jornal al jornalero.

22. Excel in all that you do; bring no stain upon your honor.

23. Uno edifica, el otro destruye, ¿qué ganan con ello más que fatigas?

23. At the time when you end the days of your life, in the hour of death, distribute your inheritance.

24. Uno bendice, el otro maldice, ¿a quién de los dos escuchará el amo?

24. Fodder and a stick and burdens for an ass; bread and discipline and work for a servant.

25. Quien se purifica del contacto de un muerto y le vuelve a tocar, ¿qué ha ganado con su baño de purificación?

25. Set your slave to work, and you will find rest; leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty.

26. Así el hombre que ayuna por sus pecados y que vuelve otra vez a hacer lo mismo; su oración, ¿quién la escuchará? ¿de qué le ha servido el humillarse?

26. Yoke and thong will bow the neck, and for a wicked servant there are racks and tortures.

27.

27. Put him to work, that he may not be idle, for idleness teaches much evil.

28.

28. Set him to work, as is fitting for him, and if he does not obey, make his fetters heavy.

29.

29. Do not act immoderately toward anybody, and do nothing without discretion.

30.

30. If you have a servant, let him be as yourself, because you have bought him with blood.

31.

31. If you have a servant, treat him as a brother, for as your own soul you will need him. If you ill-treat him, and he leaves and runs away, which way will you go to seek him?