Eclesiástico, 12

1. Si haces el bien, mira a quién lo haces, y por tus beneficios recibirás favor.

1. The wisdom of a humble man will lift up his head, and will seat him among the great.

2. Haz bien al piadoso; hallarás recompensa, si no de él, al menos del Altísimo.

2. Do not praise a man for his good looks, nor loathe a man because of his appearance.

3. No habrá bienes para el que en mal persiste, ni para quien no agradece la limosna.

3. The bee is small among flying creatures, but her product is the best of sweet things.

4. Da al hombre piadoso, y del pecador no te cuides.

4. Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, nor exalt yourself in the day that you are honored; for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works are concealed from men.

5. Haz bien al humilde y no des al impío; niégale su pan, no se lo des, para que no llegue con ello a dominarte. Pues un mal duplicado encontrarías por todos los bienes que le hubieres hecho.

5. Many kings have had to sit on the ground, but one who was never thought of has worn a crown.

6. Que también el Altísimo odia a los pecadores, y de los impíos tomará venganza.

6. Many rulers have been greatly disgraced, and illustrious men have been handed over to others.

7. Da al hombre de bien, y del pecador no te cuides.

7. Do not find fault before you investigate; first consider, and then reprove.

8. No se demuestra en la prosperidad el amigo, ni queda oculto en la adversidad el enemigo.

8. Do not answer before you have heard, nor interrupt a speaker in the midst of his words.

9. Cuando hay prosperidad, los enemigos se entristecen, mas en la adversidad, hasta el amigo se aleja.

9. Do not argue about a matter which does not concern you, nor sit with sinners when they judge a case.

10. No confíes jamás en tu enemigo, que cual bronce roñoso, así es su maldad.

10. My son, do not busy yourself with many matters; if you multiply activities you will not go unpunished, and if you pursue you will not overtake, and by fleeing you will not escape.

11. Aunque se haga el humilde y camine encorvado, mira por ti mismo y guárdate de él. Pórtate con él como el que pule un espejo, sábete que no retendrá hasta el fin su roña.

11. There is a man who works, and toils, and presses on, but is so much the more in want.

12. No le pongas junto a ti, no sea que se te revuelva y suplante tu puesto. No le sientes a tu diestra, no sea que tu asiento pretenda, y que al fin comprendas mis palabras, y te pese al recordar mis consejos.

12. There is another who is slow and needs help, who lacks strength and abounds in poverty; but the eyes of the Lord look upon him for his good; he lifts him out of his low estate

13. ¿Quién se compadecerá del encantador mordido de serpiente y de todos los que se acercan a las fieras?

13. and raises up his head, so that many are amazed at him.

14. Lo mismo le ocurre al que convive con el pecador y comparte sus pecados.

14. Good things and bad, life and death, poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.

15. Una hora aguantará contigo, mas si te desmandas, no lo soportará.

15.

16. En sus labios pone dulzura el enemigo, mas en su corazón trama arrojarte a la fosa. En sus ojos lagrimea el enemigo, mas si topa ocasión, no se verá harto de tu sangre.

16.

17. Si los males te visitan, primero que tú le encontrarás allí, fingiendo ayurdarte te agarrará el talón.

17. The gift of the Lord endures for those who are godly, and what he approves will have lasting success.

18. Meneará su cabeza, batirá palmas, cuchicheará mucho y mudará de cara.

18. There is a man who is rich through his diligence and self-denial, and this is the reward allotted to him:

19.

19. when he says, "I have found rest, and now I shall enjoy my goods!" he does not know how much time will pass until he leaves them to others and dies.

20.

20. Stand by your covenant and attend to it, and grow old in your work.

21.

21. Do not wonder at the works of a sinner, but trust in the Lord and keep at your toil; for it is easy in the sight of the Lord to enrich a poor man quickly and suddenly.

22.

22. The blessing of the Lord is the reward of the godly, and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish.

23.

23. Do not say, "What do I need, and what prosperity could be mine in the future?"

24.

24. Do not say, "I have enough, and what calamity could happen to me in the future?"

25.

25. In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten, and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.

26.

26. For it is easy in the sight of the Lord to reward a man on the day of death according to his conduct.

27.

27. The misery of an hour makes one forget luxury, and at the close of a man's life his deeds will be revealed.

28.

28. Call no one happy before his death; a man will be known through his children.

29.

29. Do not bring every man into your home, for many are the wiles of the crafty.

30.

30. Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of a proud man, and like a spy he observes your weakness;

31.

31. for he lies in wait, turning good into evil, and to worthy actions he will attach blame.

32.

32. From a spark of fire come many burning coals, and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood.

33.

33. Beware of a scoundrel, for he devises evil, lest he give you a lasting blemish.

34.

34. Receive a stranger into your home and he will upset you with commotion, and will estrange you from your family.